This month (January 2010) marks the 7th observance of National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM) in the United States.
Did you know that each year, more than one million women and nearly 400,000 men in the United States are victims of stalking?
This year the theme is “Stalking: Know It. Name It. Stop It.” It challenges communities (including workplaces) to combat this dangerous crime by learning more about it and taking action.
The Stalking Resource Center and the Office on Violence Against Women has launched the 2010 National Stalking Awareness Month Web site at http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org/. The site offers fact sheets, media tools, brochures, posters and artwork, and much more. Check it out!
People do not always realize what "stalking" entails - your "stalker" is usually someone you know, and very often when a person is stalked at work, that indicates a "ramp up" in potential lethality. Do not "brush off" stalking. Take it seriously. . .whether it is in person or electronic. Keep records. Don't throw things away.
Often when I discuss this with people, they have not considered keeping the emails, or voice mails, or notes from the stalker as a record and they should. Do not feel silly about talking with law enforcement about this. . .and if you feel that police are brushing you off, talk to your state's attorney or district attorney.
Stalking is serious business, and laws have changed considerably across the US to protect victims.And if you are an employer, do not take "workplace stalking" lightly. A person being followed and called at work is a person in potential danger. And so is the rest of your workplace. Seek assistance.
And http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org/ is a great place to start.
Showing posts with label Office on Violence Against Women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Office on Violence Against Women. Show all posts
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Department of Justice Releases First Comprehensive Report on Stalking in US
As I noted is my last blog post, January is National Stalking Awareness Month and and the Office on Violence Against Women, in partnership with the National Center for Victims of Crime, launched the 2009 campaign “Know it. Name It. Stop It.”
On January 13, the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics released a supplemental report to the National Crime Victimization Survey focused on Stalking Victimization in the United States. This report is the most comprehensive study of stalking to date and confirms what experts in the field have long known:
- Stalking is pervasive
- Women are at higher risk of being stalked,
- There is a dangerous intersection between stalking and more violent crimes.
The study found that during a 12-month period, an estimated 3.4 million people (age 18 or older) were victims of stalking. Surpassing previous estimates of stalking, the study noted persons age 18 to 19 and 20 to 24 experienced the highest rates of stalking victimization.
The study further illustrates a dangerous reality that women are at higher risk of stalking victimization. Females experienced 20 stalking victimizations per 1,000 females age 18 or older. The rate of stalking victimization for males was approximately 7 per 1,000 males age 18 or older.
Seven in 10 victims sought help. Approximately 60% do not report victimization to the police. Most enlisted the help of family or friends while only 7% contacted victim services, a shelter, or helpline.
These findings delineate some clear priorities for professionals in the field as well as friends and colleagues – and workplaces. As I indicated in my last post, stalking is a real issue for employees who are victims of domestic violence, and stalking at the workplace is a potential indication of increased danger for that employee – and the rest of the workplace.
Take a look at the resources on the National Stalking Awareness Month website, during Stalking Awareness Month and throughout the year.
In addition, take advantage of the information and resources on the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence website at www.caepv.org .
We need to take stalking seriously – and this new study shows how important it is that we make it “everybody’s business.”
On January 13, the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics released a supplemental report to the National Crime Victimization Survey focused on Stalking Victimization in the United States. This report is the most comprehensive study of stalking to date and confirms what experts in the field have long known:
- Stalking is pervasive
- Women are at higher risk of being stalked,
- There is a dangerous intersection between stalking and more violent crimes.
The study found that during a 12-month period, an estimated 3.4 million people (age 18 or older) were victims of stalking. Surpassing previous estimates of stalking, the study noted persons age 18 to 19 and 20 to 24 experienced the highest rates of stalking victimization.
The study further illustrates a dangerous reality that women are at higher risk of stalking victimization. Females experienced 20 stalking victimizations per 1,000 females age 18 or older. The rate of stalking victimization for males was approximately 7 per 1,000 males age 18 or older.
Seven in 10 victims sought help. Approximately 60% do not report victimization to the police. Most enlisted the help of family or friends while only 7% contacted victim services, a shelter, or helpline.
These findings delineate some clear priorities for professionals in the field as well as friends and colleagues – and workplaces. As I indicated in my last post, stalking is a real issue for employees who are victims of domestic violence, and stalking at the workplace is a potential indication of increased danger for that employee – and the rest of the workplace.
Take a look at the resources on the National Stalking Awareness Month website, during Stalking Awareness Month and throughout the year.
In addition, take advantage of the information and resources on the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence website at www.caepv.org .
We need to take stalking seriously – and this new study shows how important it is that we make it “everybody’s business.”
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