What is Stalking?

Mississippi law defines stalking as:

Any person who willfully, maliciously and repeatedly follows or harasses another person, or makes a credible threat, with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear of death or great bodily injury.

Mississippi law expounds with other definitions related to stalking incidents:

Harasses- means a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person which seriously alarms, annoys, or harasses the person, and which serves no legitimate purpose. The course of conduct must be such as would cause a reasonable person to substantial emotional distress, and must actually cause substantial emotional distress to the person.

Course of conduct- Means a pattern of conduct composed of a series of acts over a period of time, however short, evidencing a continuity of purpose.

A credible threat- Means a threat made with the intent and the apparent ability to carry out the threat so as to cause the person who is the target of the threat to reasonably fear for his or her safety.

Stalking:

Stalking by its definition is not a one-time act but a course of conduct. It can involve a combination of obvious criminal acts and acts that, in isolation, would appear non-threatening. It is the pattern and context of these criminal and no criminal acts that constitute stalking.

Stalking often includes:

• Assaulting the victim
• Violating protective orders
• Sexually assaulting the victim
• Vandalizing the victim's property
• Burglarizing the victim's residence or stealing from victim
• Threatening the victim
• Killing the victim's pet

Other common stalking behaviors can include:

• Sending the victims cards or gifts
• Leaving telephone ore-mail messages for the victims
• Disclosing to the victim personal information the offender has uncovered about him or her
• Disseminating personal information about the victim to others
• Following the victim
• Visiting the victim at work or school
• Waiting outside the victim's home
• Sending the victim photographs taken of him or her without consent
• Monitoring the victim's internet history and computer usage
• Using technology to gather images of or information about the victim

Stalkers

Stalking behaviors are complex, varied and unpredictable. Stalking takes many forms, and individual incidents may be very different. It is hard to be certain if and when stalking will escalate to violence. Stalking is a crime of power and control. Stalkers are, by their very nature, obsessive and dangerous and not easy deterred.

Victims of Stalking

Unlike the case with many crimes, the legal definition of stalking covers not only the offender's behavior but also the effects on the victim. The victim's psychological responses and the change the victim makes in his or her life as a result as a result of stalking can all be used as evidence of the fear the offender has caused.

Victims Often:

• Feel constantly on alert, vulnerable, out of control, stressed, and anxious
• May experience a loss of trust, long-term emotional distress, and significant disruption of everyday living
• Seek psychological counseling
• Are concerned about the effects on their children and other secondary victims

Stalking can trigger a wide variety of behavioral reactions. Many victims take steps to avoid being followed or spied on.

• By altering their normal routines
• Avoiding going out alone
• Giving up leisure activities
• Screening all telephone calls
• Changing their phone numbers, e-mail, and postal addresses

What to do if you think you are the victim of stalking:

• You are strongly urged to contact Campus Police, or your local law enforcement agency if you live off campus.