Stalking in America - National Violence Against Women Survey (NVAW)

The National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cosponsored a nationally representative phone survey of 8,000 women and 8,000 men, 18 years and older. The survey was conducted by the Center for Policy Research between November 1995-May 1996. This was the first national research study to examine the problem of stalking. The study provides empirical data on the prevalence of stalking, the characteristics of stalking, and the consequences of stalking.

Stalking was defined as "a course of conduct directed at a specific person that involves repeated visual or physical proximity, nonconsensual communication, or verbal, written or implied threats or a combination thereof, that would cause a reasonable person to fear."

Key findings

Prevalence

1 out of every 12 women will be stalked during her lifetime
1 out of 45 men will be stalked during his lifetime
1,006,970 women are stalked annually
370,990 men are stalked annually

Communities of color

Although the number of survey respondents representing communities of color was small, the NVAW survey found that American Indian/Alaska Native women reported more stalking victimization than female victims of other racial or ethnic background. The survey also showed significantly less stalking victimization among Asian/Pacific Islander women.

Stalkers

94% of stalkers identified by female victims were men
60% of stalkers identified by male victims were men
87% of stalkers overall were men

Other Key Findings

81% of women who were stalked by a current or former husband or cohabiting partner were also physically assaulted and 31% were also sexually assaulted by that partner.

77% of female victims were stalked by someone they knew. 59% of female victims were stalked by an intimate partner.

64% of male victims were stalked by someone they knew. 30% of male victims were stalked by an intimate partner.

Top three reasons victims felt they were being stalked: stalker wanted to control victim, stalker wanted to keep victim in relationship, and stalker wanted to scare victim.

45% of female victims and 43% of male victims were overtly threatened by stalker.

55% of female victims and 48% of male victims reported stalking to police.

13.1% of female victims and 9% of male victims, whose stalkers were charged criminally, had their cases prosecuted.

52.8% of female victims and 60% of male victims had their cases result in a conviction.

28% of female victims and 10% of male victims obtained a protection order. 69% of female victims and 81% of male victims had the protection order violated.

Average duration of stalking reported was 1.8 years; however if stalking involved intimate partners, average duration increased to 2.2 years.

Top three reasons victims thought the stalking ended: victim relocated, stalker got a new love interest, and police warned stalker.

Effects of stalking on victim: 30% of female victims and 20% of male victims sought psychological counseling; 26% of victims lost time from work and 7% never returned to work because of stalking.