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This month raises awareness about stalking. Why is it important?
Maybe some of you heard or watched the show called “You” on Netflix. The character is named Joe.
In the first season, Joe stalked Beck in public and through social media. He stood outside by her apartment to stalk her through the window. He also monitored her texts and tracked her social media posts.
He put Beck in the glass cage after Beck found out what he had done. Beck couldn’t ask for help because of no phone and no way to get people’s attention. In the end, he murdered Beck.
Is it love? Romantic? No. Stalking is a dangerous crime. It is not love and an unhealthy relationship.
Did you know that that affects over 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men who have experienced stalking victimization in their lifetime?
(Smith, S.G., Zhang, X., Basile, K.C., Merrick, M.T., Wang, J., Kresnow, M & Chen, J, 2018, p. 5)
Stalking is a crime under the laws of 50 states and D.C. In Iowa, the definition of stalking is “the person purposefully engages in course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, intimidated, or threatened to fear that the person intends to cause bodily injury to, or the death of, that specific person or a member of the specific person’s immediate family”. (Iowa Code 2021, Section 708.11)
It’s important to understand stalking and its behavior patterns. We need to share this awareness with others to keep everyone safe. Keep your eye on our social media for resources, tips, and tools to help you to keep yourself safe or be supportive to someone who may experience stalking right now.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you suspect that someone stalks you and you need help or call 911 if you feel in danger.