Stalking - Another form of Domestic Abuse
The National Institute of Justice defines stalking, like domestic violence, as a “crime of power and control. Stalking is conservatively defined as "a course of conduct directed at a specific person that involves repeated (two or more occasions) visual or physical proximity, nonconsensual communication, or verbal, written, or implied threats, or a combination thereof, that would cause a reasonable person fear." [1] Stalking behaviors also may include persistent patterns of leaving or sending the victim unwanted items or presents that may range from seemingly romantic to bizarre, following or laying in wait for the victim, damaging or threatening to damage the victim's property, defaming the victim's character, or harassing the victim via the Internet by posting personal information or spreading rumors about the victim.
According to the CDC's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS),1 in 6 women and 1 in 19 men have been stalked during their lifetime. For both female and male victims, stalking was often committed by people they knew or with whom they had a relationship. Two-thirds of the female victims of stalking (66.2%) reported stalking by a current or former intimate partner and nearly one-quarter (24.0%) reported stalking by an acquaintance. About 1 in 8 female victims (13.2%) reported stalking by a stranger. [2]
A BLIND EYE takes place prior to the ubiquity of social media and electronic devices. Since that time, the advent of cyberstalking has added other elements that are able to be weaponized into methods of intimidation, such as phone, fax, GPS, cameras, computer spyware, and the Internet.
Does Babe’s reaction and/or avoidance of identifying Matthew’s behavior encourage increasingly violent reactions? How do you think Matthew would react to receiving a Protection From Abuse Order?
A BLIND EYE is available for immediate download, and your favorite book vendors. Hit the buy button on any page.
For more information related to stalking and/or domestic abuse: https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/overview-stalking