This book is about ways to enhance police responses to
stalking. Its focus is collaborative community partnerships and
protocols to help police departments address stalking more effectively
and appropriately.
Stalking is not a new phenomenon, but has only recently been
recognized as a significant and widespread problem. It differs from
many other crimes in at least two respects. By definition, it is a form
of repeat victimization–behavior constituting a series of incidents
rather than a single criminal act. It is also a crime that is defined, in
part, by its impact on the victim–by the fear it induces.
Individual stalking incidents looked at in isolation often appear
innocuous. But once identified as part of a pattern of behavior of
unwanted contact imposed on the victim by the perpetrator, it's
another story. Whether they are linked to domestic violence or involve
perpetrators who are acquaintances or strangers, stalking incidents
become threatening and sinister, even in the absence of any overt
threats to harm the victim. In a significant number of cases, stalking is
in fact, a precursor to lethal violence.
The fear induced by stalking, the drastic way it disrupts victims' lives,
and the real dangers faced by many victims all demand effective
intervention by law enforcement. Yet, stalking is exceptionally difficult
to police–difficult to investigate, prosecute, and prevent–and the
majority of police departments in the United States lack clearly
defined policies to deal with it.
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