Stalking Safety Planning
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Overview
Several murders of
stalking victims have highlighted the fact that people who stalk can be very
dangerous. Stalkers can threaten,
attack, sexually assault and even kill their victims. Unfortunately, there is no
single psychological or behavioral profile that can predict what stalkers will
do. Stalkers' behaviors
can escalate, from more indirect ways of making contact (e.g. sending email or
repeated phone calling) to more personal ways (delivering things to the victim's
doorstep or showing up at their work).
Many victims
struggle with how to respond to the stalker. Some victims try to reason with the
stalker, try to "let them down easy" or "be nice" in hopes of getting the
stalker to stop the behavior. Some
victims tell themselves that the behavior "isn't that bad" or other sentiments
that minimize the stalking behavior.
Other victims may confront or threaten the stalker and/or try to "fight
back." These methods rarely work because stalkers
are actually encouraged by any contact with the victim, even negative
interactions.
Victims of stalking
can not predict what stalkers will do but can determine their own responses to
the stalking behavior. Personal
safety and harm prevention is of the utmost importance for victims. While victims cannot control the stalking
behavior, they can be empowered to take steps to keep themselves, family and
loved ones safe. The creation of a
safety plan can assist victims in doing this.
Stalking Safety Plan – What is
it?
A safety plan is a
combination of suggestions, plans, and responses created to help victims reduce
their risk of harm. It is a tool
designed in response to the victim's specific situation that evaluates what the
victim is currently experiencing, incorporates the pattern of previous behavior,
and examines options that will positively impact the victim's safety. In a safety plan, the factors that
are causing or contributing to the risk of harm to the victim and her/his loved
ones are identified and interventions are developed.
Advocates and Stalking Safety
Planning
While victims can make safety plans on their own, it is
often helpful to enlist the assistance of trained professionals. These
professionals, including advocates and law enforcement officers, can help a
victim determine which options will best enhance their safety and will work to
devise a safety plan to address each unique situation and circumstance. Victim advocates can be found in local
domestic violence and rape crisis programs, as well as in victim assistance
programs in local prosecutors' offices and in some law enforcement
agencies. If you do not know how to find an advocate, contact the National Center
for Victims of Crime for free and confidential services at 1-800-FYI-CALL or
gethelp@ncvc.org.
Stalking Safety Plans – What
to Include
When safety
planning, victims can consider what is known about the stalker, the people who
might help, how to improve safety in one's environment, and what to do in case
of an emergency. The average
stalking case lasts approximately two years, therefore safety planning must
begin when the victim first identifies the stalking behavior and continue
throughout the duration of the case.
Safety plans need to be re-evaluated and updated continuously as the
stalker's behavior, the victim's routines, and access to services and support
changes.
Below are
suggestions to consider when developing a stalking safety plan. This is not an exhaustive list. In a safety plan, any recommended
strategy must focus on what the victim feels will work in her best interest at
any given point in time.
Documentation of Stalking and
Reporting to Police
Victims are
encouraged to keep a log of all stalking behaviors including e-mails and phone
messages. The log, as well as any
gifts or letters the stalker sends the victim, can be collected and used as
evidence. The evidence will help
prove what has been going on if the victim decides to report the stalking to the
police or apply for a protective order. Sample Stalking Log.
Rely on Trusted
People
Many victims have
found simple ways to make the stalking affect them less. They may ask someone else to pick up and
sort their mail, get a second phone number given only to trusted people, or have
people at work or school screen phone calls or inform the police if the stalker
shows up. Relying on trusted
friends and family is important for victims of stalking to help keep victims
safer and also reduce the isolation and feelings of desperation that stalking
victims may experience.
Technology Safety
Planning
Stalkers use
technology to assist them in stalking their victims in various ways. It is important to consider how to
victims may be harmed by stalkers' use of technology. Stalkers use the
Internet to contact or post things about the victim on message board or
discussion forums. They may also
verbally attack or threaten victims in chat rooms. Some stalkers will post threatening or
personal information about the victim – including the victim's full name and
address. Often stalkers will e-mail
the victim, or fill their in-box with spam and have been known to send viruses
or other harmful programs to victims' computers. These threatening messages should be
saved, especially if the victim is considering contacting the police with the
case.
If stalkers have
access to a victim's computer, they can track them by looking at the history or
websites visited on the computer.
Also, stalkers have been known to install Spyware software on computers
(sometimes sent through e-mail) that sends them a copy of every keystroke made,
including passwords, Web sites visited, and e-mails sent. Spyware is very difficult to detect and
a victim will likely not know she has it on her computer. If a victim believes s/he has a Spyware
program on her/his computer, it is important the victim talk to a trained
advocate.
Stalkers use cell phones enabled with Global Positioning
System (GPS) to track victims.GPS technology can
also be used to track or follow victims by placing them in the victim's car and
will be able to tell everywhere the car travels. When safety planning with a victim about
technology issues, ask a victim if her stalker has ever had access to her phone
or computer. If so, it may be
important to stop using the phone or computer, or only use it in a manner that
will not give the stalker any information about the victim's location.
It is also important
for victims of stalking to remain diligent about protecting their personal
information that could be saved in databases. Businesses, for example, collect
personal information about people, including addresses, phone numbers, last
names, etc. This information can
sometimes be accessed and exploited by stalkers. One stalking victim's ex-boyfriend
learned of her new address by "innocently" inquiring at the local oil change
station if she had recently brought in their car for an oil change. Because that business had her
information stored, they gave the stalker the address the victim had wanted to
keep unknown to the stalker.
Victims are encouraged to consider who might have their personal
information. They should instruct
businesses to not give out any personal information. In many instances, victims can ask that
their account be password protected.
This password
should be one only known to the victim and no information should be released or
discussed until the password has been verified.
Although no safety
plan guarantees safety, such plans are valuable and important tools to keep
victims safer, document incidents that happen with the perpetrator, make
surroundings more secure, and identify people who can help.
For more information about safety planning, please visit the SRC website at
www.ncvc.org/src or call 1-800-FYI-CALL.
Stalking
Safety Tips
Safety
Anytime:
- If possible, have a phone nearby at all times, preferably one to which
the stalker has never had access.
Memorize emergency numbers, and make sure that 911 and helpful family
or friends are on speed dial.
- Treat all threats, direct and indirect, as legitimate and inform law
enforcement immediately.
- Vary routines, including changing routes to work, school, the grocery
store, and other places regularly frequented. Limit time spent alone and try to shop
at different stores and visit different bank branches.
- When out of the house or work environment, try not to travel alone and
try to stay in public areas.
- Get a new, unlisted phone number.
Leave the old number active and connected to an answering machine or
voicemail. Have a friend,
advocate, or law enforcement screen the calls, and save any messages from the
stalker. These messages,
particularly those that are explicitly abusive or threatening, can be critical
evidence for law enforcement to build a stalking case against the
offender.
- Do not interact with the person stalking or harassing you. Responding to stalker's actions may
reinforce their behavior.
- Consider obtaining a protective order against the stalker. Some states offer stalking protective
orders and other victims may be eligible for protective orders under their
state's domestic violence statutes.
- Trust your instincts. If
you're somewhere that doesn't feel safe, either find ways to make it safer, or
leave.
If in
imminent danger, locate a safe place.
Consider going to:
- Police Station
- Residences of family or friends (locations unknown to the
perpetrators)
- Domestic violence shelters
- Place of worship
- Public areas (some stalkers may be less inclined toward violence or
creating a disturbance in public places).
Safety at
home:
- Identify escape routes out of your house. Teach them to your
children.
- Install solid core
doors with dead bolts. If all keys cannot be accounted for,
change the locks and secure the spare keys. Fix any broken windows or
doors.
- Have a code word you use with your children that tells them when they
need to leave.
- Inform neighbors and, if residing in an apartment, any on-site managers
about the situation, providing them with a photo or description of the stalker
and any vehicles they may drive if known. Ask your neighbors to call the police
if they see the stalker at your house.
Agree on a signal you will use when you need them to call the
police.
- Pack a bag with important items you'd need if you had to leave
quickly. Put the bag in a safe
place, or give it to a friend or relative you trust.
- Consider putting together
a "stalking sack" that includes the stalking log, a camera, information about
the offender, etc. More information on Stalking
Sacks.
Safety at
work and school:
- Give a picture of the stalker to security and friends at work and
school.
- Tell your supervisors.
They have a responsibility to keep you safe at
work.
- Ask a security guard to walk you to your car or to the
bus.
- If the stalker contacts you, save any voicemails, text messages, and
e-mails.
- Give the school or daycare center a copy of your protective order. Tell them not to release your children
to anyone without talking to you first.
- Make sure your children know to tell a teacher or administrator at
school if they see the stalker.
- Make sure that the school and work know not to give your address or
phone number to anyone.
- Keep a copy of your
protective order at work.
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Copyright © 2009 by the National Center
for Victims of Crime. This information may be freely distributed, provided
that it is distributed free of charge, in its entirety and includes this
copyright notice.