NCJ Number
208200
Journal
Crime & Delinquency Volume: 51 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2005 Pages: 3-25
Date Published
January 2005
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study examined how evaluators interpreted stalking incidents.
Abstract
During the early 1990’s the media coverage of stalking cases led to public alarm about stalking, which in turn led to legislation prohibiting stalking behavior. However, the phenomenon of stalking has never been adequately defined and the enforcement of anti-stalking laws at the policing level remains idiosyncratic. The current study adds to the research literature by identifying the characteristics of the offender, characteristics of the victim, and the behavioral characteristics that impact interpretations of stalking. Participants were 356 undergraduate students who completed an instrument that experimentally assessed the influence of 20 variables on their perceptions of stalking-related incidents. Results of statistical analyses indicated that five variables significantly influenced interpretations of stalking; the factors include victim characteristics, behavioral characteristics, and shared victim-offender circumstances. Future research should focus on identifying how personal perceptions influence the criminal labeling process. Tables, appendix, references