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
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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
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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)
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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?
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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)
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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