Though no stalking offenses have been reported to the Department of Public Safety this year, officials said that a single offense was reported both last year and the year before.

There were 3.4 million adults ages 18 and older stalked in a one-year period in the United States, according to the Stalking Resource Center, a program of the National Center for Victims of Crime.

The month of January is National Stalking Awareness Month. During this time, the Office on Violence Against Women and the U.S. Department of Justice both work to increase the public’s understanding of stalking-related crimes throughout the country.

‘The University takes a serious stance on stalking and related offenses,’ said Lt. Kathy Pabis of DPS’ Investigations Unit at Syracuse University, in an email. ‘We encourage the victim to report such activity immediately to law enforcement, either with DPS or the

On average, women are more likely to be victims of stalking, yet both men and women are equally likely to experience harassment, according to a 2009 Bureau of Justice statistics report. Nearly three out of four stalking victims reported knowing their stalker in some capacity, according to the report.

‘If the suspect is a student, a no contact order will be put in place directing the perpetrator to stay away from the victim,’ Pabis said. ‘In receipt of a stalking case, a report and judicial complaint, if a student, will be filed along with criminal charges if applicable.’

It is generally difficult to predict stalking, but the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, said Leslie Gellis, assistant professor of psychology, in an email. People should be cautious of those who have a history of being antisocial or who lack concern for the welfare of others through lying, stealing or manipulation, he said.

One main effect of stalking, Gellis said, is the psychological effect on the victim.

‘It’s a pretty significant stressor,’ he said. ‘It could lead to hypervigilance about safety, constant worry, and perhaps difficulty sleeping if a person does not feel safe at home. All these can lead to a significant mental and physical burden.’

More than one in four victims report being stalked through a form of technology in a one-year period, according to statistics gathered by the Stalking Resource Center.

Because the Internet allows the public easy access to personal information, new opportunities for the potential stalker have emerged. Pabis said social networking sites in particular are of potential concern.

‘Most students tend to post details about themselves: educational background, home school, college, class schedule, relationship status, photos and even telling their whereabouts on any particular day/night, etc,’ Pabis said. ‘This information just gives the stalker more tools.’

Yet social media now reveals a new solution to the problem it has yielded. A recently released iPhone app called myGuardianAngel allows users to quickly send emergency alerts to several contacts, capture video evidence and be tracked by GPS.

‘The general idea of the app definitely appeals to me, but I wonder how practical it would be in a real emergency,’ said Michelle Noe, a sophomore sculpture major. ‘I’m just not sure that I would think of my iPhone app if I was being mugged or something.’

jbdermer@syr.edu 

Published on January 24, 2012 at 12:00 pm