Stalking & Victims with Disabilities Violence Against Women Women with disabilities experience the highest rate of personal violence - violence at the hands of spouses, partners, boyfriends, family members, caregivers, and strangers - of any group in our society today. Stalking Addressing Stalking Myths Stalking only happens to celebrities. You can't be stalked by someone you are still dating. Stalking isn't dangerous. Modern technology is too expensive and confusing for moststalkers to use. Stalking Stalking is a pattern of behavior directed at a specific personthat would put a reasonable person in fear Dynamics of Stalking Stalking cases are often hard to identify Seemingly non-criminal behaviors become criminal in stalkingcases "Sometimes I unlock my car and find a rose on the seat- nonote, just the rose. Somehow he got into my car and left it there; it's all he needsto do to terrorize me." Stalking behaviors against V/W/D Offender's may use power and control to: Monopolize on a victim's real or perceived vulnerability Use authority over the victim to obtain 'consent' for sexualcontact or other behaviors Stalking behaviors against V/W/D Manipulation of victims' use of assistive technologies Examples: email,TTY machines, etc. Talk to victims about what assistive technologies they useand ways in which offenders may manipulate those technologies. Contact NNEDV's SafetyNet team for more info on abuse of assistivetechnologies: safetynet@nnedv.org Prevalence of Stalking 1 out of every 12 U.S. Women 1 out of every 45 U.S. men 13.1% of college women stalked during one 9-month period Approximately 1.4 million people are stalked in America everyyear Persons Stalked in Lifetime (%) Understanding Stalking 94% of female victims were stalked by men 60% of male victims were stalked by men Overall, 87% of stalkers were men Connection to Domestic Violence 81% of victims stalked by their intimate partner report previousphysical assaults by the same offender Point in Intimate Relationship When Stalking of Women Occurs Intimate Partner Stalkers = Increased Risk for Victims More likely to physically approach victim More insulting, interfering and threatening More likely to use weapons More likely to re-offend Behaviors more likely to escalate quickly Connection to Sexual Assault 31% of women stalked by her intimate partner were also sexuallyassaulted by that partner In 10.3% of campus stalking incidents, the victim reportedthat the stalker forced or attempted sexual contact Connection to Sexual Assault In one study of men who admitted committing acts that metthe legal definition of sexual assault, the participants reported: They "staked out" their victims. They considered women "targets" and "prey." Behaviors that met the definition of stalking occurred bothpre- and post-sexual assault. Lethality of Stalking Cases Lethality of Stalking Cases 3 out of 4 females murdered by their intimate partners hadbeen stalked by that offender at least once in the year prior to the murder 2 out of 3 females murdered by their intimate partner hadbeen physically abused by that person in the 12 months prior to the murder. Almost 90% of those abused & murdered victims had alsobeen stalked in the 12 months prior to the murder. Lethality of Stalking Cases Physical Abuse + Stalking = Higher indicator of lethality than either behavioralone Reporting to Law Enforcement 54% of femicide victims reported stalking to police in theyear before they were killed by their stalkers. 46% of attempted femicide victims reported stalking to policein the year prior to the attempted murder. Reporting for V/W/D Access to reporting Victims may be considered incompetent witnesses by policeand the courts, particularly if they have difficulty, or require assistance in,communicating Additional Consequences of Reporting Women with developmental disabilities may have particulardifficulties escaping domestic violence because many fear leaving an abusive partnercould result in: Reinstitutionalization Having children taken away from them Stalkers Profiles Demographics Criminal History: 33% had prior adult violent criminal history 27% had no priors 19% had prior adult non-violent criminal record Demographics 46% of offenders had a clear or probable DSM-IV-TR diagnosisat time of stalking Substance abuse present in 32% of cases Suicidal ideation present in 25% of cases Stalkers of V/W/D People with disabilities are more likely to depend on theirabusers for food, personal care services, health care support, and other vital roles. Stalkers of V/W/D Use the victim's disability or difficulty in communicatingto discredit her story if she tells it Be more believable to law enforcement, particularly if heis in a position of authority Why do they stalk? Rejection Obsession Power & Control Sexual Gratification Planning to commit a crime Because they can Impact on Victims Mental/Emotional Impact 80% of victims reported increased anxiety 30% of victims developed Post traumatic Stress Disorder 25% of victims considered or attempted suicide Impact on Victims Financial Impact 26% reported that they lost time from work 7% were never able to return to their jobs 11% of female victims relocated What Can We Do? Improving System Responses Understanding Victim Reactions Criminal Charges Civil Remedies Advocacy Tips Understanding Victim Reactions Active resistance Help seeking Coping to reduce danger Coping by complying with stalker's demands Courting Disaster: Intimate Stalking, Culture, and CriminalJustice, Jennifer L. Dunn (2002) Understanding Victim Reactions No Contact/Disengagement Intermittent Reinforcement Negotiation/Minimizing Harm No Contact Letters Criminal Charges State Stalking Statutes Federal Stalking Statute (18 USCS ?2261A) Uniform Code of Military Justice (Art 120a) Tribal Stalking Codes Creative Charging Civil Remedies Protective Orders Eligibility for Domestic orders Availability of Sexual Assault orders Availability of Stalking orders Violations 81% of Male victims 69% of Female victims Civil Tort Claims Working with Stalking Victims Safety Documentation Support Documentation 2/3 of stalkers pursue their victim at least once per week 78% of stalkers use more than one means of approach Documentation Documentation for V/W/D Alternative Forms of Documentation: Digital voice recorder Blackberry/Cell phones Log with instructions for attendants or providers Others? Support Available services for stalking victims? Advocacy Assistance with filing stalking complaint Assistance with evidence collection and coordination withlaw enforcement Court accompaniment Relocation assistance Safety Planning Individual counseling Support Groups Support for V/W/D Access to Services and the Justice System Confidentiality Varying Routes and Schedules Reliance on service systems Sandy Bromley Stalking Resource Center Practitioners: 202-467-8700 Victims: 1-800-FYI-CALL www.ncvc.org/src