admin posted on January 17, 2011 05:15
January is National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to focus on a crime that affects 3.4 million victims a year. This year’s theme—“Stalking: Know It. Name It. Stop It.”— challenges you to fight this dangerous crime by learning more about it.
Communities that understand stalking, can support victims and combat the crime. “If more people learn to recognize stalking, we have a better chance to protect victims and prevent tragedies,” said Captain Carla Thompson with the Matthews Police Department. “If you are a victim of stalking we want you to call us. We will walk you thru the process for how we can assist you in protecting yourself legally from this type of behavior.”
Stalking is a crime in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, yet many victims and criminal justice professionals underestimate its seriousness and impact. In one out of five cases, stalkers use weapons to harm or threaten victims, and stalking is one of the significant risk factors for femicide (homicide of women) in abusive relationships. Victims suffer anxiety, social dysfunction, and severe depression at much higher rates than the general population, and many lose time from work or have to move as a result of their victimization.
Stalking is difficult to recognize, to investigate, and to prosecute. Unlike other crimes, stalking is not a single, easily identifiable crime but a series of acts, a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause that person fear. Stalking may take many forms, such as assaults, threats, vandalism, burglary, or animal abuse, as well as unwanted cards, calls, gifts, or visits. One in four stalkers use technology, such as computers, global positioning system devices or hidden cameras, to track the daily activities of their victims. Stalkers fit no standard psychological profile and many stalkers follow their victims from one jurisdiction to another making it difficult for authorities to investigate and to prosecute their crimes.
The Matthews Police Department is working to promote awareness and educate the public about stalking. For more information or assistance, please contact Debbie Hartman, Matthews Police Department at 704-847-7755.