University of Wisconsin - Stout

Statistics

  1. More than 13% of college women indicated they had been stalked in one college year. (Fisher, B. and Cullen, F. (2000). Extent and Nature of the Sexual Victimization of College Women: A National-level Analysis. Rockville, MD: National Criminal Justice Reference Service.)
  2. 25% of the stalking incidents among college women involve cyber stalking. (Cyberstalking, 1999). "Cyberstalking: A New Challenge for Law Enforcement and Industry." A Report from the Attorney General to the Vice-President. Washington, CD: U. S. Department of Justice.)
  3. There is a strong link between stalking and other forms of violence in intimate relationships: 81% of women were also physically assaulted: 31% of women were also sexually assaulted. (Tjaden, P. and Thoennes, N. (1998). Stalking in America: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Study. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice.)
  4. 4 in 5 campus victims knew their attackers (stalker) 42.4% were classmates, 24.5% were acquaintances, 10.3% were a boyfriend/ex-boyfriend, 9.3% were friends, and 5.6% were co-workers.
  5. Campus stalking incidents lasted an average of 60 days (Fisher, 2000).
  6. The primary targets of stalking are young women between the ages of 18-29 (52%)-the traditional college student age (Ibid).
  7. The most common consequence of campus stalking was psychological. In over 15% of the incidents, victims reported that the stalker threatened harm. In over 10% of the incidents, they reported forced or attempted sexual contact.(Campus Stalking, July 2002, Vol.2)
  8. 83% of stalking incidents were not reported to local or campus police. (Ibid).
  9. 93.4% confided in someone, most often a friend, that they were being stalked. (Ibid).

Wisconsin Stalking Laws

Wisconsin Statute: 940.32 Stalking. (Paraphrased)

  1. In this section:
    1. Two or more acts carried out over time, however short or long, that show a continuity of purpose, including any of the following:
      1. Maintaining a visual or physical proximity to the victim.
      2. Approaching or confronting the victim.
      3. Appearing at the victim's workplace or contacting the victim's employer or coworkers.
      4. Appearing at the victim's home or contacting the victim's neighbors.
      5. Entering property owned, leased, or occupied by the victim.
      6. Contacting the victim by telephone or causing the victim's telephone or any other person's telephone to ring repeatedly or continuously, regardless of whether a conversation ensues.
      7. Sending material by any means to the victim or, for the purpose of obtaining by the victim.
      8. Delivering an object to a member of the victim's family or household or an employer, coworker, or friend of the victim or placing an object on, or delivering an object to, property owned, leased, or occupied by such a person with the intent that the object be delivered to the victim.
      9. Causing a person to engage in any of the acts described in subds. 7. to 9.
  2. Whoever meets all of the following criteria is guilty of a Class I felony:
    1. The actor intentionally engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person under the same circumstances to fear bodily injury to or the death of himself or herself or a member of his or her family or household.
    2. The actor intends that at least one of the acts that constitute the course of conduct will place the specific person in reasonable fear of bodily injury to or the death of himself or herself or a member of his or her family or household.
    3. The actor's acts induce fear in the specific person of bodily injury to or the death of himself or herself or a member of his or her family or household.

Examples of stalking:

Cyber stalking: emails, chat rooms, instant messengers, cell phones and pagers.

Following a person, watching a person from afar, continuous phone calls, delivering something to a person's residence, place of work, having other people make contact.

What do I do if I am being stalked?

Stalking Safety Plan Guidelines

(National Center for Victims of Crimes)

There is no guarantee that if you follow all, or some, of these strategies that you will be safe; however, implementing these strategies may reduce your odds of physical or emotional harm from your stalker.

If You Are in Immediate Danger:

Go to one of the following places:

If You Are Not In Immediate Danger

If you believe that you are at risk for being in a potentially harmful or violent situation, the following options may be considered:

  1. Restraining or Protective Orders

Generally, these court orders require the offender to stay away from and not interfere with you. If violated, the person may be immediately arrested. Restraining orders are not foolproof -- they often do not extend beyond certain lines of jurisdiction, and can only be enforced if they are broken. You should be cautioned against developing a false sense of security. Moreover, it often costs money to obtain such an order due to the cost of filing fees, or in some courts and jurisdictions, the need of obtaining legal assistance.

The police, Bridge to Hope, Victim Witness Program or Campus Violence Prevention Program can assist you in obtaining one of these orders.

Illegal Acts

You may determine that the stalker has broken the law by entering your residence without your permission, stealing and/or destroying your property, physically and/or sexually assaulting you etc.

If so, these acts may be punishable. Notifying police of illegal acts may be important for the following reasons:

  1. If convicted, the stalker may be incarcerated and/or ordered to stay away from you;
  2. Charges may intimidate the offender, sending the message that his/her actions are illegal and will not be tolerated; and
  3. Notifying the police produces documentation, which may be useful in a future complaint for evidentiary or credibility purposes.

Preventive Measures

Who can I report to if I am being stalked?

If you need help or know someone who needs help, there are many places you can report any incidents. Navigate to Reporting Options.

What will happen to me if I report the stalking to the police?

If you choose to report the stalking behavior to the Menomonie Police Department or the Campus Police the following may happen.

  1. The police will encourage you to disclose to them the name of person stalking you, so that they can do a criminal background check on that person. It is your decision whether or not to disclose the name of the person.
  2. If you choose not to disclose the name of the person, the police may then educate you on ways that you can keep yourself safe.
  3. If you disclose the name of the person, the police will do a criminal background check on the person to see if he/she has been involved in any type of violent crimes in the past.
  4. The police may also contact the person stalking you to tell him/her to stop contacting you.
  5. The police may assist you in obtaining a "Protection Order"
  6. The police may refer you to helpful community resources to help you cope with the situation.

What will happen to the person who is stalking me?

The police may choose to make contact with the person, either in person or over the phone to tell the person to stop contacting you. In most cases, the person will discontinue contact. If the person continues to contact you or follow you, you need to report that to the police immediately. The police can then assess if you need to file a Protection Order. The police may also choose to tap your phone line if the contact is made on your land phone.If the police believe there is a reason to believe that the person committed the assault, then the person will be arrested. Click on Dean of Students to learn about their investigation procedures.

What are the consequences for the person stalking me?

View the Consequences for Stalking Offenders by following this link.

How Can I Help a Friend Who Is Being Stalked?