{"id":10258,"date":"2020-01-14T16:50:14","date_gmt":"2020-01-14T23:50:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/btsadv.wpengine.com\/?p=10258"},"modified":"2020-01-19T15:38:13","modified_gmt":"2020-01-19T22:38:13","slug":"the-importance-of-documenting-stalking-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=10258","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Documenting Stalking"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By: Rebecca Lynn<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you being stalked?\nStalking can be subtle, often mistaken for intense love, and extravagant\ngestures. Stalking can be more obvious, such as continuous calls, texts,\nemails, and a constant feeling of being watched. Stalking can also be more\nintense with threats, damaged property, and unwanted visits. Often it is\ndifficult for the victim to recognize subtle signs, and even more difficult to\nprove them. The Stalking\nPrevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC)<\/a> reports 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men\nhave been victims of stalking by a current or former intimate partner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what exactly is\nstalking? According to the United States Department of Justice<\/a>, the term stalking means, \u201cengaging in a\ncourse of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable\nperson to fear for his or her safety or the safety of others or suffer\nsubstantial emotional distress.\u201d You may be unsure if you are being stalked;\nmaybe they are not threatening you, but rather refusing to accept that the\nrelationship is over. You may be uncomfortable, annoyed, and unsure of what to\nexpect at any given moment. On the other hand, you are noticing that they seem to\nbe everywhere that you are, have threatened you, or your identity. How serious\nis it? Based on research from the Stalking Resource\nCenter<\/a> 89% of murdered female\nvictims were physically assaulted and stalked within the 12 months of their\ndeath.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stalking is not only\ndifficult to identify but equally as challenging to prove. However, all types\nof stalking are dangerous and should be taken seriously. According to the Handbook for Stalking Victims<\/a>, calling the police is an essential first\nstep, regardless of how much evidence you have, or how serious they take the allegations.\nA police report is documented and is valuable information that can be provided\nregarding how to document incidents, and community resources focused on\nstalking victims. Emergency calls regarding stalking are complex and are often\nquestionable when it comes to breaking the law. Consistent phone calls,\nunwanted gifts, and feelings of being watched are not always an arrestable\ncrime, at least not by themselves. Victims are often discouraged after reaching\nout to authorities. However, it is the beginning of the documentation essential\nto prove the stalking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Documentation is vital\nto show evidence, patterns of offenses, increase credibility, and help those in\ncivil and criminal courts understand the impact the stalker has had on your\nlife. What information should be documented and how should it be documented?\nThe Stalking Resource Center offers an online Stalking Incident Log<\/a>, similar to SPARC\u2019s Stalking Documentation\nLog<\/a>. If you are not\ncomfortable or safe using technology, a simple spiral notebook or journal can\nserve the same purpose. The key to documenting is to include every incident\nregardless of how insignificant or repetitive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are some\nrecommended incidents, behaviors, and important information that should be\ndocumented:<\/p>\n\n\n\n