What is Stalking?
Stalking is a course of
conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to
feel fear. It can include watching, following, telephoning, text messaging, tracking, confronting, using electronic monitoring, taking photographs or video and a wide variety of other behaviors.
In Oregon, stalking is listed as a Class A misdemeanor. It becomes a felony only if the
offender has a prior conviction for stalking or for violating a court's
stalking protective order.
Stalking is serious, often violent, and can escalate over time. A stalker can be someone you know well or not at all. Most
have dated or been involved with the people they stalk. Most stalking cases
involve men stalking women, but men do stalk men, women do stalk women, and women
do stalk men.
Some things stalkers do:
- Repeatedly call you, including hang-ups.
- Follow you and show up wherever you are.
- Send unwanted gifts, letters, cards or e-mails.
- Damage your home, car or other property.
- Monitor your phone calls or computer use.
- Use technology, such as hidden cameras or global positioning
systems (GPS), to track where you go.
- Drive by or hang out at your home, school or work.
- Threaten to hurt you, your family, friends or pets.
- Find out about you by using public records or on-line search
services, hiring investigators, going through your garbage, or contacting
friends, family,neighbors or co-workers.
- Other actions that control, track or frighten you.
|