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STALKING (Obsession Harassment). Charles L. Feer, JD, MPA Bakersfield College. Stalking (Calif. Law). Willful, malicious and repeated following or harassing of another accompanied by a credible threat
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STALKING (Obsession Harassment) Charles L. Feer, JD, MPA Bakersfield College
Stalking (Calif. Law) • Willful, malicious and repeated following or harassing of another • accompanied by a credible threat • with the intent to place a person in reasonable fear of safety to themselves or an immediate family member. • (Law Enforcement is to give a 15 day notice to victims of the release of a stalker.)
Stalking Defined: • Persistent unwanted contact and / or communication with a victim • Resulting in the victim’s fear or distress.
Profile Vast Majority of stalkers are male. (80% of victims are female.) 27% are Females who stalk Public Figures. Persistent stalking behavior is associated with violent behavior. However, serious violent episodes occur < 10% of reported stalking incidents. Perpetrator usually knows or is familiar with the victim. Stalking affects 5% - 16% of adults at some point during their lifetime.
Profile, continued… • Motive of most stalkers is control, intimidating or frightening their victims. • Nearly all stalking cases will ultimately involve face-to-face contact.
Victims: • Former Spouses / Intimates of stalkers are most at risk. • Intimate Stalkers threatened persons and property. • The more intimate a relationship between a stalker and a victim, the more likely a threat will be carried out.
Violence • The availability of weapons or a history of using weapons increases significantly the risk of life-threatening violence. • When stalking behaviors increase in frequency or severity, there is a heightened risk for violence. • Sever mental disorders are not strong predictors of violent stalking. • Stalking violence is greater if the stalker visits the victim’s home.
Stalking Typologies • RECON – Relationship and Context. Persons who stalk public persons versus private persons. • Type I – Perpetrator has had a previous relationship with the victim. • Type II – Perpetrator has had no or very limited contact with the victim.
Victim Classifications • 1) Intimate • 2) Acquaintance • 3) Public Figure • 4) Private Stranger
Typologies • Intimacy-Seeking Stalkers, are socially isolated, lonely, socially inept and filled with an inflated sense of entitlement. • Rejected Stalkers, (largest group ) are ex-partners with mixed and confusing feelings of desire for reconciliation and revenge. • Incompetent Stalkers regard their victims as attractive potential partners but are not infatuated with them.
Typologies • Resentful Stalkers, are motivated to frighten and distress the victim. They may be paranoid and delusional. • Predatory Stalkers, are potentially sexually violent. They take pleasure in the sense of power produced by stalking as well as the power in sexual assault.
Stalking will usually stop… • When the stalker finds a new love interest. • Law Enforcement intervention. • “Warning” • Arrest • Restraining Orders do not seem to work, and may antagonize the stalker. • Victim relocates. • Research is silent on effect of ass beatings.