Understanding the Crime of Stalking (From Different Crimes Different Criminals: Understanding, Treating and Preventing Criminal Behavior, P 63-80, 2006, Doris Layton MacKenzie, Lauren O’Neill, et al. eds. -- See NCJ-217024)

• NCJ Number: 217027
• Author(s): Summer Acevedo
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 78 pages
• Sale Source: Anderson Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Curriculum
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter describes the crime of stalking, including victim and offender characteristics, theoretical explanations, and treatment and prevention approaches.

Abstract

Stalking did not become a crime in the United States until 1994, following several sensationalized incidents including the 1989 murder of actress Rebecca Shaffer by an obsessed fan. Definitions of the crime of stalking vary by State and can include the presence of a specific act, a threat, or intent to cause harm or fear. Some States require that one, two, or all three elements are present for stalking behavior to be considered criminal. In addition to protecting victims of stalking, anti-stalking laws have successfully increased awareness and research efforts regarding stalking behavior. Prevalence estimates of stalking are offered, which indicate that women’s risk of being stalked during their lifetime is 1 in 12, while men’s risk of being stalked is 1 in 45. Victim and offender characteristics are presented, which indicate that 86 percent of all stalking victims are below the age of 40 years. Five types of stalkers are identified: (1) the rejected; (2) intimacy seekers; (3) the resentful; (4) the predatory; and (5) the incompetent. Other researchers have classified stalkers as: (1) simple obsessional; (2) love obsessional; and (3) erotomaniac. Female stalkers are rare but not nonexistent and they tend to suffer from mental illness or disorders. Theoretical explanations of stalking behavior generally rely on psychological analyses of the phenomenon in which the behavior of stalkers is explained by the presence of various personality disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, or schizophrenia. Treatment approaches tend to focus on individualized treatment of specific mental illnesses and disorders while prevention approaches focus on victim protective measures. Much work remains to be done on understanding the crime of stalking, including how to treat offenders and better protect victims. References