*Resources below*
Each January, Stalking Awareness Month serves as a crucial time to shed light on a pervasive yet often overlooked crime. Stalking, characterized by repeated, unwanted attention and contact that causes fear or concern for one’s safety, is a serious issue that disproportionately affects women. Recognizing and addressing stalking is not only essential for individual safety but also plays a significant role in the broader context of combating crimes against women.
Stalking is a widespread problem with alarming statistics. According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, one in six women in the United States has experienced stalking at some point in her lifetime. This crime often intersects with other forms of violence, such as domestic abuse and sexual assault, making it a critical issue to address in efforts to protect women and prevent further harm.
Stalking behaviors can include following someone, showing up at their home or workplace, sending unwanted messages or gifts, and making threats. The psychological toll of stalking is profound, leading to anxiety, depression, and a pervasive sense of fear. Victims may alter their daily routines, change jobs, or even relocate to escape their stalkers. The ripple effects extend to families and communities, highlighting the need for comprehensive awareness and intervention.
Stalking Awareness Month aims to educate the public, law enforcement, and policymakers about the realities of stalking and the importance of a coordinated response. This month-long campaign provides valuable resources, including toolkits, webinars, and social media campaigns, to empower communities to recognize and address stalking.
The Conference on Crimes Against Women plays a pivotal role in advancing the conversation around stalking. Through dedicated workshops, expert panels, and keynote addresses, CCAW provides a platform for professionals to learn about the latest research, best practices, and innovative approaches to tackling stalking. The conference emphasizes the interconnected nature of stalking with other crimes against women, underscoring the importance of a holistic response.
Stalking Awareness Month is a call to action for everyone—from individuals to institutions—to take stalking seriously. By raising awareness and fostering collaboration, we can create a safer environment for women and work towards eradicating this insidious crime.
As we observe Stalking Awareness Month, let us renew our commitment to understanding, preventing, and responding to stalking. Together, through awareness, education, and action, we can make a significant impact in the fight against crimes targeting women.
Resources from CCAW programs to advance your knowledge of combatting stalking:
Click each title to access the resource.
ICCR Roll Call Training: Stalking Investigations
Presented in collaboration with SPARC (Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center), the Stalking Investigations Roll Call Training is a FREE on-demand training opportunity.
Divided into six short video segments and discussion guides, this training shows how to effectively uncover and document common tactics used by stalking offenders.
Hosted by our program, Institute for Coordinated Community Response (ICCR), you can visit the website and register for FREE access to this training and many others!
ICCR Webinar: Digital Storm: Offenders Use of Technology to Stalk Victims & Overcoming Investigative Roadblocks
Presented by Detective Kelly Downey, Bossier Sheriff’s Office.
ICCR Webinar: Working with LGBTQ+ Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking
Presented by Anya Lynn-Alesker, Chief Counsel and Ruth Perrin, Training & Technical Assistance Attorney of ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence.
PCAW Episode: Uncovering the Dark Side of Vehicle Tracking: Tech-Enabled Abuse and the Fight for Digital Safety
As Detective Kelly Downey unravels the haunting narrative of “Christine,” a woman ensnared by her spouse through her car’s GPS, we confront the sobering reality of tech-enabled abuse. Our discussion with digital safety expert Adam Dodge ventures beyond physical violence to expose the psychological and technological warfare waged in abusive relationships. This episode strips bare the complexities of car stalking and the severe implications for victims’ safety, questioning the accountability of car companies and the effectiveness of current legislation in protecting those at risk.
Peeling back the layers of vehicle tracking apps, we reveal the unsettling truth about modern stalking tactics, where abusers exploit the very tools meant to provide convenience and security. Our conversation takes a critical look at the automotive industry’s privacy practices, or lack thereof, and the obstacles law enforcement face when seeking cooperation from tech giants. We spotlight the bold steps necessary to safeguard personal privacy in an era where technology can be both an ally and an adversary.
In response to the pervasive threat of digital harassment, we share innovative strategies and resources that offer victims a lifeline. Encrypted messaging and vigilant digital hygiene become shields against abusers, while legislative strides in phone number portability present a beacon of hope.
PCAW Episode: From Grief to Advocacy: Debbie Riddle’s Fight for Stalking Awareness and Systemic Change
Every January, we’re reminded of the chilling reality of stalking and its devastating repercussions. This month, we echo the courage of Debbie Riddle, who transformed her grief into advocacy after the murder of her sister Peggy by a stalker. Together with Jennifer Landhuis from the Stalking Prevention Awareness and Resource Center (SPARC), we tackle the difficult nuances of stalking, from the subtle signs to the overt, with a critical eye on how law enforcement and the public acknowledge and respond to such danger. Their insights expose the gaps in our system and ignite a vital discussion on the need for consistent intervention against this crime.
The narrative of Peggy’s ordeal is both heartbreaking and a powerful catalyst for change. Debbie’s relentless pursuit to raise stalking awareness has not only memorialized her sister but has also pioneered educational reforms. We reflect on the systemic failures that had dire consequences and highlight the importance of initiatives like Stalking Awareness Month. By examining Debbie’s journey and Jennifer’s expertise, the episode underlines the crucial role of education and the immediate need for law enforcement to develop a deeper understanding and more effective protocols when facing stalking cases.
As we wrap up this intense episode, we underscore the importance of community response and SPARC’s role in providing resources to better address stalking cases. We delve into the trainings offered to criminal justice agencies, the alarming prevalence of stalking, and the available support systems on college campuses. This session is not just a tribute to Peggy but a call to action for everyone to participate in the national day of action against stalking, to bring awareness and to restore a sense of safety for those affected.
PCAW Episode: Stalking & Post-Separation Abuse: Understanding the Connection Between Stalking and Domestic Violence After the Relationship Has Ended
Stalking is a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that causes a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others. And each year, over 13 million people experience it in various ways – being followed, receiving unwanted communications or gifts, through social media, and more. And when the stalker is a former intimate partner, post-separation abuse can materialize as stalking. Rachel Gibson of the National Center for Victims of Crime leads us through the realities of stalking, its prevalence, how it manifests, how it impacts victims, how technology is weaponized by stalkers, and the steps we can take to counter these unwanted behaviors.
Rachel Gibson is the Director of the Center for Victim Service Professionals at the National Center for Victims of Crime, where she works to further the mission by supporting and overseeing NCVC’s programs for victim service professionals, providing training and technical assistance. She also is the founder of RG Williams Consulting designed to engage and support domestic violence programs and national and international gender-based agencies and non-profits that support staff of color and communities at the margins. Ms. Gibson was formerly a Senior Technology Safety Specialist on the Safety Net Team at the National Network to End Domestic Violence where she worked to increase the safety and privacy of survivors and victims of crime. There, she developed training and technical assistance and provided expert thought leadership to build the capacity of victim service providers, private industries, lawmakers, and communities at large to provide advocacy and support to survivors in this digital society. Prior to NNEDV, Ms. Gibson also worked at the National Resource Center on Reaching Victims through the Vera Institute of Justice, and at the former Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence as the Technology Safety Program Specialist.
