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Stalking |
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Stalking is
a crime in all 50 states and the district of Columbia,
yet many victims and criminal justice professionals
underestimate its seriousness and impact. Victims
suffer anxiety, social dysfunction, and severe
depression at much higher rates than the general
population, and many lose time from work or have to move
as a result of their victimization. |
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MYTH: You
can't be stalked by someone you're dating. |
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Fact: If your "friend" tracks your every move in a
way that causes you fear, that is stalking. |
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MYTH:
Technology is too expensive and confusing for
most stalkers to use. |
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Fact: Stalkers can buy easy-to-use surveillance
equipment for as little as $30. |
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MYTH:
If you confront the stalker, he or she will go away. |
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Fact: Confronting or trying to reason with a stalker
can be dangerous. Get help. |
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MYTH: Only
celebrities are stalked. |
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Fact: The vast majority of the 1.4 million people
who are stalked each year are ordinary citizens. |
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MYTH:
If you ignore the stalking, it will go away. |
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Fact: Stalkers seldom "just stop." Victims should
seek help from law enforcement to stop the stalking. |
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Source: The National Center for Victims of Crime
(1-800-FYI-CALL)
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Click here for info on
Stalking Safety Plans
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Video:
Real Fear, Real Crime (Part 1) |
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Video:
Real Fear, Real Crime (Part 2) |
Video:
Real Fear, Real Crime (Part 3)
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For
additional information and resources on stalking:
UTSA University Police Department
Victim and Witness Information
(210) 458-4242
http://www.utsa.edu/utsapd/victim_witness/index.html
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The U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Violence Against Women
http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov
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The
National Center for Victims of Crime
1-800-FYI-CALL
http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org
http://www.ncvc.org/src/Main.aspx
The
National Institute of Justice
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/crime/stalking/welcome.htm
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