Stalking in Later Life

Stalking in Later Life Triangle Conference on Crimes Against Women • August 28-29, 2014 Williamsburg, VA Presented by: Elaina Roberts, JD Sue Ryan,...
Author: Harvey Robbins
5 downloads 0 Views 813KB Size
Stalking in Later Life Triangle Conference on Crimes Against Women • August 28-29, 2014

Williamsburg, VA

Presented by: Elaina Roberts, JD

Sue Ryan, JD

Program Attorney [email protected]

Program Attorney [email protected]

Stalking Resource Center National Center for Victims of Crime www.victimsofcrime.org/src

Training Technical Assistance Resources • •

Statutes Legislative Updates



Manuals/Guides



Videos



Clearinghouse

The Stalking Resource Center is a program of the National Center for Victims of Crime. The mission of the Stalking Resource Center is to enhance the ability of professionals, organizations, and systems to effectively respond to stalking. The Stalking Resource Center provides training, technical assistance, and resource materials for professionals working with and responding to stalking victims and offenders.

1

Overview 

Definition of “elderly”



Stalking  Prevalence  Dynamics



Working with elderly stalking victims

Definition of Elderly Who qualifies as an elderly person?

Definition of Elderly: Age Based There is no set standard for who qualifies as elderly:  Older Americans Act – age 60 

Medicare – age 65



Tribal communities – ages 50 to 55



AARP – age 50 The term elderly can span four decades!

2

Defining Stalking Behavioral definition

Virginia stalking statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-60.3 Any person, except a law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101, and acting in the performance of his official duties, and a registered private investigator, as defined in § 9.1-138, who is regulated in accordance with § 9.1-139 and acting in the course of his legitimate business, who on more than one occasion

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-60.3 cont. engages in conduct directed at another person with the intent to place, or when he knows or reasonably should know that the conduct places that other person in reasonable fear of death, criminal sexual assault, or bodily injury to that other person or to that other person's family or household member is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

3

Behavioral Definition of Stalking A pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.

Stalking: Fear What is difficult about this aspect of the crime of stalking?

Stalking A pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Context is critical!

4

Prevalence of Stalking 6.6 million stalked in 1 year in U.S. 

Rate  26.5



per 1,000

By gender  4%

of women

 1.3%

of men

- The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report (2011)

Stalking Prevalence 



Virginia population ~ 8,260,405 

4,196,286 females



4,064,119 males

Roughly 220,685 cases in year 

167,851 female stalking victims



52,834 male stalking victims

Do the Math 1. Take the population of your community 2. Divide by 1000

3. Multiply by 26.5 4. Equals statistical number of stalking cases in your community each year

5

Stalking Dynamics 18 – 24 year olds experience the highest rates of stalking

Women are more likely to experience stalking

Most stalkers are male

The majority of victims know the stalker

Victim Offender Relationship Current/former intimate partner

66.2% 41.4%

24.0%

Aquaintance

40.0%

13.2% 19.0%

Stranger

Female Male

6.8% 5.3%

Family member

2.5%

Person of authority 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

- The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report (2011)

Age of Female Stalking Victims 18-24 years 34%

10 Years and Under

1% * 45+ years 7% 35-44 years 11%

25-34 years 29% * Estimate not reported for ages 10 and younger

11-17 years 18% - The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report (2011)

6

Age of Male Stalking Victims 25-34 years 30% 18-24 years 28% 10 years

11-17 years 7% * Estimate not reported for ages 10 and under

35-44 Years 20%

45+ years 14%

- The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report (2011)

Age of Stalking Victims 65 or older

4%

50-64

10%

35-49

17%

25-34

20%

20-24

28%

18-19

30% 0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

- Stalking Victimization in the United States, BJS (2009)

Common Stalking Behaviors 

What stalking behaviors can you think of?



What have victims disclosed to you?



What stalking behaviors have you seen?

7

Stalking Behaviors unwanted phone calls and messages

66%

spreading rumors

36%

following or spying

34%

unwanted letters and email

31%

showing up at places

31%

waiting for victim leaving unwanted presents

29% 12% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% - Stalking Victimization in the United States, BJS (2009)

Forms of Technology        

Phones – calls, messages, texts, pics, video Cameras Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Computers Social networking sites Email & IM Spyware Assistive technologies

Pattern of Behavior 2/3 of stalkers pursue their victim at least once per week

78% of stalkers use more than one means of approach Weapons used to harm or threaten victims in about 20% of cases - The RECON Typology of Stalking - The RECON Typology of Stalking (2006)

8

Duration of Stalking 6 months or less 7-11 months 1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years 5 years or more Don't know 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

–- Stalking Victimization in the United States, BJS (2009)

Stalking & Domestic/Sexual Violence 

81% of stalking victims who were stalked by an intimate partner reported that they had also been physically assaulted by that partner. - National Violence Against Women Survey (1998)



3/4 of women who experienced stalking-related behaviors experienced other forms of victimization (sexual, physical, or both)   

Stalking and physical assault only 8% Stalking and rape/sexual assault only 26% Stalking, physical and rape/sexual assault 11% - Stalking acknowledgement and reporting among college women experiencing intrusive behaviors (2007)

Stalking and Other Crimes 

Among stalking cases… 24% involve property damage  21% involve a direct attack on the victim  15% involve an attack on another person or pet 



Identity theft

Charged items to credit card

30%

Took money from accounts

52%

Opened/closed accounts

54% 0%

20%

40%

60%

–- Stalking Victimization in the United States, BJS (2009)

9

A Growing Population

US Growth Rates 

Persons age 65 and older are expected to more than double between 2012 and 2060  From  1:5



43.1 million to 92.0 million

US residents will be 65 or older by 2060

In 2056, for the first time, persons age 65 and over are projected to outnumber those age 18 and under. - US Census Bureau, 2012 Projections

US Growth Rate cont. 

Those age 85 and older are projected to more than triple between 2012 and 2060.  From  This

5.9 million to 18.2 million

will be 4.3% of the total population

This is the fastest growing population! -US Census Bureau, 2012 Projections

10

States With The Most 65+ Populations More than half (59%) of persons age 65+ live in: California Florida  Texas  New York  Pennsylvania  Ohio

Illinois Michigan  North Carolina  New Jersey  Georgia  Virginia*









*Amongst a few states with the fastest growing population age 65+ US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging, 2013

Working With Elderly Stalking Victims

Impact of Stalking on Victims Reactions • Minimization • Self-blame • Concentration difficulty • Self-medicating • PTSD • Hypervigilance

Emotions • Guilt • Shame & embarrassment • Frustration • Anger • Confusion • Fear • Depression

11

Specific Challenges What are some of the challenges older victims of stalking face?

Reasons For Not Reporting Victim is minimizing or is uncertain of the behaviors Victim did report to someone but had a negative response

Victim is isolated

Reasons For Not Reporting Fear of being put in a facility The offender is a family member, intimate partner, or care-taker Lack in understanding technology

12

Reasons For Not Reporting Thought it a minor incident (minimization)

27%

Private or personal matter

27%

Reported to another official

14%

Not clear a crime occurred

11%

Thought police wouldn't think it was important or would be ineffective

11%

Couldn't identify offender/lacked evidence

10%

Feared the perpetrator/afraid of reprisals

6%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

- Stalking Victimization in the United States, BJS (2009)

Reporting By the time victims report to police, the stalking behavior has been well established and… victim-initiated countermeasures have failed. -

Klein et al., (2009). A Statewide Study of Stalking and Its Criminal Justice Response.

How Might the Reporting Occur?

13

Safety Planning

Safety for Stalking Victims Service Providers • Privacy • Confidentiality

Protection Orders • Pros & cons

Safety Accommodations • Employment; school; housing • Offender notification option?

Documentation is Key Victim Logs Police Reports Evidence Preservation

14

Documentation Log STALKING INCIDENT LOG

Date

Time

Description of Incident

Location of Incident

Witness Name(s)

Police Called

Officer Name

(Attach Address and Phone #)

(Report #)

(Badge #)

Free to download at www.victimsofcrime.org/src

Stopastalker App

Advocacy Allow victims to tell their story 



Allows the survivor to remember more details and put all the pieces in place Facilitates the transition from traumatic memory to day-to-day memory

Provide validation 



Process by which we teach victims that many reactions to traumatic events are normal Reinforce that most reactions of anger, fear, frustration, guilt, and grief are natural and common

15

Advocacy & Support Prediction & Preparation

Victims need information  Reporting  Justice process  Can help victim gain control 

Safety Planning Safety strategies  Coping strategies 

Safety Planning Risk Reduction •Practical tips for safety

Resources •Services •Individuals

Empowerment •Coping Skills •Autonomy

Important Issues to Consider

Victim’s life situation

Stalkergenerated risks

Confidentiality

Systemic barriers

Use of Technology

16

Steps of Safety Planning

Listen

• Victim story

Goals

• Victim needs

Risks

• Victim safety

Education • Judgment free Resources • Who can help?

Threat Assessment

What Does Threat Assessment Tell Us? Snapshot showing whether a specific person demonstrates a risk at a particular point in time. 



We cannot use a threat assessment to determine that a person is not a risk.

Threat level not fixed or constant.  Frequent

assessments of threat are important.

 Threat

assessments should be as dynamic as the situation the victim faces.

17

More Dangerous Times Separation Protective order served/criminal arrest Offender’s loss of job, other life events Multiple incidents in a short period of time – increase in quantity of contacts as well as escalation in behaviors

Most Dangerous Offenders         

History of substance abuse History of mental illness History of violence, especially towards victim Threats of murder or murder-suicide Actual pursuit Possession and/or fascination with weapons Vandalism & arson Tendency towards emotional outbursts and rage History of violating protection orders

Look at Offender’s Behaviors 

Pattern of increasingly more personal communication



Any changes (increase or decrease) in the frequency of activities or communications?



Evidence of planning?



Possess instructional books or materials about harming others

18

Stalking Violence

Jealous

Where there is evidence of the presence of all of these factors, the risk of stalking violence is heightened.

Direct threats

Drug use

Greatest risk of violence

- Women’s Experience of Violence During Stalking by Former Romantic Partners (2005)

Timeline 

Look for escalation of threats 8/6/14 8/8/14

8/12/14

8/15/14

Showed up at work Threatening call

8/16/14

Parked across street all night

8/25/14

Tires slashed

Dead roses

Text messages

Tires slashed Parked across street all night Dead roses Showed up at work Threatening call Texts

19

Threat Assessment Tools Among others… 

Danger Assessment - dangerassessment.org



Mosaic - mosaicmethod.com



Spousal Risk Assessment Guide (SARA)



Violence Risk Assessment Guide (VRAG)



Level of Service Inventory – Revised (LSI-R)



The Classification of Violence Risk (COVR)

Final Considerations 

Approach the situation like any other stalking case



Suspend your disbelief – assume what the victim is

saying is true 

Remember, these are often healthy, active, and independent persons

Available for download at www.ncvc.org/src

20

Training





Technical Assistance

  

Resources

  

In person training Webinars Individual & organizational assistance Fact sheets, brochures, manuals, guides Policy/protocol development & consultation Videos Online resources Stalking Awareness Month materials

www.victimsofcrime.org/src

© National Center for Victims of Crime 2014

Content of this presentation may be reproduced for educational purposes with the permission of the Stalking Resource Center. Please contact the Stalking Resource Center at [email protected] or 202-4678700 for permission.

This project was supported by Grant No. 2008-TA-AX-K017 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

21