By Lana Hollerud

Crime Victims Resource Center

January is the 11th annual Stalking Awareness Month. Stalking can be defined as “a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.” Most victims know their stalker; usually a former partner or spouse. This type of stalker is particularly dangerous – one-third of all stalked female homicide victims were killed by their current or former partner.

Experiencing the behavior of a stalker has a strong impact on victims. Fear and anxiety are common reactions as well as a feeling of vulnerability because they never know when the stalker will strike next so they never feel safe.

The most effective thing a person who has become the target of an obsessed individual can do is to stop all contact. Reasoning, demands to be left alone, or negotiating, do not work with obsessed stalkers; any type of contact the victim has with the stalker encourages more stalking behavior. Unfortunately, if they are parenting children together it can be very difficult to avoid contact with their stalker. Also, the stalking victim sometimes finds the family court system often unintentionally provides stalkers with the ability to continue intimidating and harassing their victims, despite even a no contact order being in place.

Stalking is happening in our community. Anyone who is experiencing stalking behaviors may benefit from working with advocates at the Crime Victims Resource Center to talk about their various options and safety planning. For more information or for assistance please call 507 437-6680.

The Crime Victims Resource Center is available to provide advocacy and support to any crime victim in Mower County. As always, our services are provided free of charge. Please call 507 437-6680 for more information on the Crime Victim’s Resource Center.