Tracking Stalkers, Part Five

Although it is a problem as old as human society, stalking has only been deemed a crime since 1990 when California enacted the nation’s first anti-stalking law. Since then, all states, the District of Columbia, and the federal government have passed laws defining and prohibiting stalking (Miller, 2001). From the Winter 2006 Forensic Examiner; written by Bruce Gross, PhD.

The negative effects of stalking can be pervasive and long-term for the victims (Dressing, Kuehner, & Gass, 2005; Purcell et al., 2002; Sheridan, Blaauw, & Davies, 2003; Spitzberg, 2002; Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998; Pathe & Mullen, 1997). Rates of depression range from 56% (Spitzberg) to 83% (Pathe & Mullen, 1997), with similar rates reported for anxiety. Pathe and Mullen found that nearly 40% of victims met the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder and that another almost 20% manifested features of the disorder without meeting the criterion pertaining to physical harm. Frequently reported symptoms (not meeting the criteria of a diagnosable disorder) included sleep disturbances (41%), substance abuse, suicidality (25%), irritation, agitation (56%), nervousness, conflicted/lost current romantic relationship and/or friendships, and impaired academic/occupational performance (Dressing, Kuehner, & Gass, 2005; Sheridan et al.; Abrams & Robinson, 2002; Purcell et al.; Spitzberg; Pathe & Mullen).

In response to the psychological consequences of being stalked, 30% of female and 20% of male victims pursued psychotherapy (Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998). Approximately 75% of stalking victims reported one or more changes in their lifestyle as a direct result of the stalking (Dressing et al., 2005). Such changes included obtaining new employment, relocating, curtailing social activities, legal name changes, buying new or different cars, changing their appearances, and changing their phone numbers. In response to chronic fear for their personal safety, stalking victims were more likely than non-victims to carry something with which to defend themselves (Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998).

Approximately 25% of female victims and 10% of male victims get restraining orders against their stalkers (Tjaden & Thoennes 1998). In a meta-analysis of 32 studies of stalking and restraining orders, Spitzberg (2002) found that for those victims who obtained restraining orders, 40% of the time it was violated. Of note, 21% of victims who were granted restraining orders described the stalking as subsequently escalating.

Tjaden and Thoennes (1998) found that Native Alaskan and Native American women were the most likely of all racial and ethnic minorities to report being stalked. Contact with the police was initiated in approximately 53% of stalking cases, typically by the victim (82%) (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). However, in only 68% of the cases did the police actually file the report and, of those, slightly less than 25% resulted in an arrest. In both Europe and America, approximately 12% of filed cases were actually prosecuted and, of those (Dressing et al., 2005; Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998), 54% were convicted. Of those convicted, 63% were sentenced to jail or prison. These findings are especially significant given that, as noted above, 54% of female murder victims reported stalking to the police.

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