January is Stalking Awareness Month

Stalking is a serious, yet often misunderstood, form of abuse that affects millions of people each year. This January, NCCASA invites you to learn more about the dynamics of stalking, its devastating impacts, and how we can collectively work to support survivors and prevent this pervasive issue.

Understanding Stalking

Stalking is defined as a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. These behaviors can include repeated, unwanted contact such as phone calls, text messages, or emails, as well as actions like following, monitoring, or tracking someone without their consent. With the rise of technology, perpetrators increasingly use tools like GPS tracking, social media monitoring, and spyware to intimidate and control victims.

The statistics are telling:

• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men have experienced stalking in their lifetime, and an estimated 13.5 million individuals are affected each year in the United States. 
• Transgender and nonbinary folks report experiencing stalking at a higher rate compared to cisgender folks. 
• Stalking is most often perpetrated by someone the victim knows—3 out of 4 victims are stalked by someone they are familiar with, such as a current or former partner.
• Young adults aged 18-24 experience the highest rates of stalking, with more than half of reported cases occurring before the age of 25 and close to a quarter occurring before the age of 18. 

Stalking is not just invasive—it can escalate into physical violence and other forms of abuse, making early intervention crucial for violence prevention.

The Impact of Stalking

The emotional and psychological toll of stalking is profound. Victims often report anxiety, depression, and a constant sense of fear. The disruptions to daily life, such as changing jobs, relocating, or altering routines to avoid the stalker, can be overwhelming. Stalking also impacts survivors financially, with costs for increased security, legal fees, and missed work.

More specifically,

• 46% of stalking victims fear not knowing what will happen next.
• 29% of stalking victims fear it will never stop.
• 1 in 8 employed stalking victims lose time from work as a result of their victimization and more than half lose 5 days of work or more.
• 1 in 7 stalking victims move as a result of their victimization.

How to Respond

Understanding how to respond to stalking is vital in supporting survivors and preventing harm:

1. Recognize the signs: Take threats and behaviors seriously, even if they initially seem minor. Stalking is often dismissed or minimized, but early recognition is key.
2. Document everything: Encourage survivors to keep records of stalking behaviors, including screenshots, voicemails, and detailed notes of incidents.
3. Develop a safety plan: Connect survivors with local advocacy organizations to create a personalized safety plan.
4. Know the law: Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, but legal definitions and protections vary. Familiarize yourself with state-specific resources to provide the best support. Here is North Carolina’s statute on stalking.

Resources for Survivors and Advocates

There are many resources available for those experiencing stalking and for advocates working to address it:

• For Advocates→ SPARC: SPARC is a federally funded project providing education and resources about the crime of stalking. SPARC is funded by the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and they provide training and technical assistance to the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) grantees and potential grantees. Visit https://www.stalkingawareness.org/
  • Access infographics and factsheets for more learning and/or to share.
• For Survivors→ Victim Connect Resource Center: Victim Connect Resource Center (VCRC) is a weekday phone, chat, and text-based referral helpline operated by the National Center for Victims of Crime. Services are available for all victims of crime in the United States and its territories. Visitors to the hotline receive strength-based and trauma-informed services and referrals in over 200 languages. Call 1-855-4-VICTIM or visit victimconnect.org.
  • • RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline, which can be reached at  800-656-HOPE (4673). For more of RAINN’s resources, including online chat hotlines, visit here.