Introduction

Stalking is behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. In Virginia, it is defined as "the conduct places that other person in reasonable fear of death, criminal sexual assault, or bodily injury to that person or to that other person's family or household member." Annually, an estimated 13.5 million individuals in the United States are stalked.

• Repeatedly calls you, may hang-up
• Follows you and shows up where you are
• Unwanted communication, gifts, letters, or texts
• Monitors your phone, Internet use, and/or location
• Leaves unwanted items for you to find
• Damages your property
• Records or photographs you without permission
• Threatens to hurt you, friend(s), family, or pet(s)
• Other actions to control, track, or frighten you

• Nearly 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men in the United States report being stalked in their lifetime
• The majority of stalking victims are stalked by someone they know (40% by a current/former intimate partner, 42% by an acquaintance). 
• Between 6% and 39% of college students report being stalked at some point during their college career.
• 18-24 year-olds experience the highest rates of stalking among adults.
• Individuals from all races, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds are affected by stalking.
• Some form of technology is used in most stalking cases.

• You may feel fearful, vulnerable, anxious, irritable, sad, hopeless, overwhelmed, confused, frustrated, isolated, and angry.
• You may experience flashbacks or have disturbing thoughts or memories of the incident(s).
• You may have trouble sleeping, focusing, or remembering.
• You may have problems with eating including loss of appetite, forgetting to eat, or overeating.
• You may experience disruptions in social and/or other networks.

There is no stereotypical stalker or stalking situation; a stalker can be from any socioeconomic background, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. Men stalk women, men stalk men, women stalk men, women stalk women, etc. However, stalkers are more likely to be former intimate partners of their victims than any other form of relationship.

• You may report the incident(s) to the JMU Police Department or to the Harrisonburg City Police.
• If you believe you are being stalked, you may contact Victim Advocacy Services with any questions, if you need support and guidance, or if you are seeking resources and connections.
• You may also receive support services from the Counseling Center and/or for those who live on campus the Office of Residence Life.
• Refrain from responding directly to any attempts of communication from the stalker. Communication or any attention at all only encourages the stalker.
• Take all threats seriously.
• Trust your instincts.
• Keep all phone logs, emails, letters, and pictures of any damages to property, – it is all evidence.
• Create a safety plan for yourself and consider a court protective order.
• Use long, complicated passwords for Internet web sites, e-mails, online banking, and other portals that may contain personal information.
• Choose security questions and answers that only you would know.
• Use extreme caution when exchanging information via the Internet.