Stalkers use technology to pursue, harass victims

January is National Stalking Awareness Month. The National Center for Victims and Crime launched this awareness month in 2004. The focus is to increase the public's knowledge of stalking crimes. The most recent U.S. Department of Justice report claims that stalking affects 3.4 million people a year, however many cases go unreported.

Stalking is difficult to recognize, investigate and prosecute. In one of five cases, stalkers use weapons to harm or threaten victims and stalking is one of the significant risk factors for femicide (homicide of women) in abusive relationships. More often than not the stalker is someone the victim knows.

Technology is increasingly being used as stalking methods including cell phones, personal computers and global positioning system devices. For more information visit stalkingawarenessmonth.org and ncvc.org. For more resources and support visit the Gender Violence Education and Support Services (GVESS) in Nelson Hall 103 or du.edu/studentlife/Sexual_Assault/stalking.html.