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SAN DIEGO - January is National Stalking Awareness Month. In recognition of this, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego’s
Behavioral Health Services and the San Diego County District
Attorney’s Office is holding a stalking awareness brief Jan. 24.
“MCRD is a community, like a civilian community, and we
have many of the same issues,” said Stacey Willis, victim advocate,
Behavioral Health Services, MCRD. “We make it an effort to educate our community on stalking by holding events and
sharing information to build awareness.”
However, educational events like this don’t just spring out of the wood work. According to Willis, the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice, National Center for Victims of Crime and the Stalking Resource Center launched National Stalking Awareness Month in 2004.
“Since this time, communities around the United States participate in National Stalking Awareness Month by holding community events, educating residents in their community and providing resources and referrals for those that may be affected by stalking,” said Willis.
Recent studies show 3.4 million people over the age of 18 are
stalked each year in the United States, and 75 percent of those
are being stalked by someone they know, according to Willis.
“Anyone can become a victim of stalking,” said Rachel Solov,
stalking and threat assessment expert, San Diego County District
Attorney’s Office.
Stalker’s actions can also affect the victim’s family and friends.
They know no bounds, it doesn’t matter the victim’s race, religion
or gender.”
According to Solov, many stalking victims are affected for the
rest of their lives, they are constantly afraid because they don’t
know what is going to happen next.
“We do a threat assessment on a victim to determine the
risk of stalking occurring,” said Willis. “When we do we look at
people who have documented and undocumented violence, previous
restraining orders and people who have a sense of ownership
over the victim like being extremely possessive or jealous.”
Solov suggests that if someone becomes a victim of stalking
they should do their best to safely avoid contact with the stalker,
inform family, friends and co-workers of what is going on in
regard to the stalking.
They should also report it to the police and follow their advice, by keeping an accurate log of all incidents connected to the stalking and keep all letters, packages, taped telephone messages,
e-mails and other contact received from the stalker, stated
Solov.
“The most important thing in stalking cases is keeping the
victim safe and preventing any harm from coming to them,”
said Solov. “That can range from intervention, where we take
the stalker and put him in jail, or helping the victim with safety
planning.”
Solov suggests some measures to help prevent a stalker from
reaching the victim such as installing solid-core doors with dead
bolts, and changing the locks immediately if any of the keys
become unaccounted for, install outside lighting such as motion sensing
lights and keep vegetation trimmed around the building.
Other tips include maintaining an unlisted phone number,
varying travel routes and limiting activities that are done alone.
If possible, provide neighbors with a photo or description of the
stalker.
Stalking is a crime in all 50 states. In addition to stalking
being illegal, it is punishable under the Uniformed Code of Military
Justice for military members.
Article 120A of the UCMJ covers stalking and states that any
person who repeatedly maintains a visual or physical proximity
and making any form of threats to a specific person, is guilty of
stalking and could be punished as a court martial may deem fit.
“Stalking cases can be difficult to prove because stalkers are
good at what they do,” said Solov. “A victim may suspect they are
being followed, but there may be no solid proof to have in court.”
There is still time to sign up for the stalking awareness brief
provided by MCRD’s Behavioral Health Services and the San
Diego County District Attorney’s Office. What stalking is,
stalker tactics, safety planning and how to keep quality of life
will be discussed in the brief.
“We are trying to raise the awareness of stalking on MCRD
by using briefs, articles and provide outreach and education
programs in the community,” said Willis. “We also provide
resources and referrals for anyone to contact if they have an issue
with stalking.”
To sign up call MCRD’s Behavioral Health Services at 610- 524-0465.
“The most important thing for stalking victims to remember
is to not be in denial,” said Solov.
| Date Taken: | 01.20.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.20.2012 20:00 |
| Story ID: | 82636 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 31 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Brief to be held on Stalker Awareness, by LCpl Katalynn M. Rodgers, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
