January is National Stalking Awareness Month

Visit www.stalkingawarenessmonth.org for more info.

Stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.

What are you doing to recognize National Stalking Awareness Month?

Stalking is a crime that is pervasive, dangerous, and potentially lethal.

6.6 million people are stalked each year in the United States.

What would you say to a friend who told you they were being stalked?

It’s not a joke. It’s not romantic. It’s not ok. Stop stalking. It’s a crime.

Although women are more likely to be stalked than men, anyone can be a victim of stalking.

1 in 4 women and 1 in 13 men will be victims of stalking in their lifetime.

Stalking is a crime. Do you know what your state stalking law says?

Would you report it if you were being stalked? Most victims don’t.

Stalking is often treated as a joke or “not that big of a deal.” Why do you think that is?

What services are available for stalking victims in your community?

Intimate partner stalking is the most common type of stalking and the most dangerous.

Try this: Google “track girlfriend” and see how many sites tell someone how to stalk.

Phones, computers, GPS, and cameras are some of the common forms of technology used by stalkers.

What messages about stalking are in the media? Tweet us what you see.

Rates of stalking among college students are higher than the general public.

How young can stalking behavior start? Do you see stalking behaviors among high school students? Middle school students? Younger?

Most stalking victims know their stalker.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Stalkers often reoffend; recidivism rates are as high as 60%.

Behaviors that may seem benign to you or me may be terrorizing to a stalking victim.

Stalking can affect a victim’s emotional, physical, and economic well-being.

Most alarmingly, stalking also can be lethal.

Stalkers often access information about victims that is available online. Do you know what information about you is online?

Victims of stalking are encouraged to keep a log of all stalking behaviors including emails, texts & phone messages.

It is important to consider how victims may be harmed by stalkers’ use of technology.

The majority of stalking victims report losing time from work as well as income because of the stalking.

Stalking: Know it. Name it. Stop it.

How will you continue your efforts to raise awareness about stalking throughout the year?