INDIANA STALKING LAWS
IC 35-45-10-1 "stalking" Defined.
Sec.1. As used in this chapter "stalk" means knowing or an intentional course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harrassment of another person that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threaten.
FACTS:
* 1.4 million people are stalked every year in the United States.
* 1 in 12 women will be stalked in their lifetime.
* 77% of females know their stalker.
* 87% of stalkers are men.
* 81% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also physically assaulted by that partner.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STALKING:
* 76 percent of women killed by their intimate partner were stalked by these partners before they were killed.
* The vast majority of stalking victims are ordinary people. Furthermore, most stalkers are not strangers, but are known by their victim.
* Stalking often begins during a relationship. Others begin stalking after the victim has ended the relationship, and the stalker feels desparate to maintain or regain control. Still others become fixated on a victim without ever having had any relationship with the person. All forms of stalking are unpredictable, and all should be considered dangerous.
* Although newly-developed technology enhances our lives, it can also empower stalkers. Cell phones, computers are just some of the technologies stalkers now use.
SOME THINGS STALKERS DO:
* Follow you and show up wherever you are.
* Send unwanted e-mails.
* Monitor your phone calls or computer use.
* Drive by or hang out at your home, or work.
* Threatens you, your family or friends.
* Finding out about you by using public records or on line search service, going through your garbage, or contacting friends, family, or neighbors.
* Other actions that control, track, or frightens you.
THINGS YOU CAN DO:
* You should always have a safe place to stay 24/7.
* Develop a safety plan.
* Trust your instincts. Don't downplay the danger. If you feel you are unsafe, you probably are.
* Take threats seriously. Danger generally is higher when a victim tries to leave or end the relationship.
* Keep evidence of the stalking.
* Keep all e-mails.
* Keep phone messages
* Have witness to write down what they saw.
An effective response to stalking includes, the entire community. Police, prosecutors, advocates, friends... everyone can and should play a part in stopping stalking.
Working together as a community, we can all help make victims safer. And to protect victims rights and privacy.
