January is National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM). Stalking is considered more than one or two occurrences of repeatedly and intentionally trying to engage in unwanted communications, contact, or behaviors that lead to emotionally distressing feelings and fear for one’s safety. It often continues even after the survivor of this unwanted behavior requests the stalker to cease communications. Stalking is frightening and emotionally violating, and it can become dangerous for a survivor.

We at Turning Point understand that domestic violence and stalking are inextricably linked. Someone who causes harm in a relationship will often stalk their partner to injure, dominate, and instill fear. This process often begins post-separation in an attempt to maintain control, but may also be active during the relationship. Domestic violence is a systematic use of power and control by one person over the other, and stalking is one of the most extreme methods of power enforcement. 

There are many forms of stalking. There is repeated and persistent communication through calls, texts, and emails, and other forms, such as sending unwanted gifts, and/or appearing at the survivor’s residence or workplace. Younger survivors may experience a stalker waiting for them outside of classes, in front of lockers, or at extracurricular activities. Threats of violence toward the survivor or their loved ones are also commonplace. 

Stalkers increasingly abuse technology and track the survivor’s whereabouts without their knowledge or consent. This is often referred to as “cyberstalking” and may involve the use of GPS to track the survivor’s whereabouts, or stalk and/or hack into email on their phones or within the home to gain unauthorized access to passwords for emails and social media accounts. As technology evolves, so does the abuse. Currently, we are seeing an increase in use of AI, smart home devices, and cloud connected accounts to stalk and harass survivors. These violations are often difficult to prove, which dismisses the survivor’s experience. 

Survivors have the right to petition the court for an Emergency Order of Protection (OP) if the stalking is being done by a current or former intimate partner or file for what’s called a Stalking No Contact Order (SNCO) if there is a lack of an intimate or familial relationship, such as a stranger, neighbor, or friend. Both documents offer similar protection under the law. Stalking can be difficult to prove, so gathering as much evidence as possible in support of the case is important. Things that document the stalking, such as screenshots of texts and emails, videos, voicemails, and call logs, are important to keep when going to court or law enforcement to prove the stalking incidents. At Turning Point, we not only take stalking seriously, but we can also assist our clients with filing for Emergency Orders of Protection. Survivors already face a myriad of barriers, and assistance with navigating the legal system is one of our objectives.

If you suspect you or someone you know is being stalked, we urge survivors to document the incidents and contact local authorities. Stalking is sometimes subtle. Start keeping track of known or suspected incidents, and monitor if someone seems to know more about you than you have told them. Stalking is a very serious form of domestic violence and Turning Point advocates are available 24/7 to help guide and support survivors through the process.

For more information about stalking, consider visiting the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC) at stalkingawareness.org or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at thehotline.org, For additional victim support, contact Victim Connect Resource Center at victimconnect.org or 855-484-2846, or the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) at rainn.org or 800-656-HOPE.

Credits
Kate Anderson is a Certified Domestic Violence Adult Advocate at Turning Point Domestic Violence Services. Kate is a former Legal Advocate with Turning Point and currently provides counseling services to survivors of domestic violence. Kate dedicates her time to assisting survivors of domestic abuse by processing the abuse they have experienced and helping to empower survivors through establishing individual goals, empathetic reflection, and providing a nonjudgmental space for survivors to tell their stories.

Editor
Tiffany Hudson, Outreach & Prevention Coordinator