Beyond The Storm:
Stalking Interventions & Investigations, Inc.
"Out of knowledge comes peace"
WA Private Investigative Agency License #2117
325 Washington Avenue Suite 258, Kent, WA 98032
Nationwide Toll Free: 844-525-HOPE (4673)
Stalking includes a wide range of threatening and disturbing behaviors and affects millions of people in the U.S. each year. It can be done in-person, by using technology, or a combination thereof. As with many crimes of interpersonal violence, offenders often target stalking victims because of characteristics that make them less likely to report the crime and less likely to be believed or taken seriously if they do report.
A Framework for Understanding Stalking
It is extremely important to note that victims of stalking often do not identify their victimization as stalking or harassment and are unlikely to use those words to describe what they are experiencing; instead, they often describe the stalking behaviors and impacts. xxii As such, it is important to use a framework for assessing the presence of stalking rather than rely on victims to identify and name it. Dr. TK Logan's multi-dimensional framework is an effective tool to assess stalking.
Stalking tactics are classified into four groups (Surveillance, Life invasion, Intimidation, and Interference through sabotage and attack) that are measured by their Duration, Intensity, and/or Frequency. Together, stalking tactics and patterns of behavior corroborate intent,xxiv whether or not the offender admits intent.
Non-Traditional Stalking is Still Stalking - Stalking by Proxy or Third-Party Stalking
Stalking by proxy involves a stalker using other people or agencies to contact, track, or otherwise affect the victim.¹ The United States Department of Justice’s Report to Congress on Best Practices Regarding Enforcement of Anti-Stalking Laws describes the research-informed SLII framework—surveillance, life invasion, intimidation, and interference through sabotage or attack.[1]
The report explains that conduct which may appear coincidental or noncriminal in isolation should be evaluated for whether it forms a pattern intended to invade, intimidate, interfere with, or sabotage the victim. It now specifically recognizes financial and employment sabotage and identifies proxy stalking as using third parties to stalk or report on a victim.
Sex-based workplace harassment does not require a sexual proposition, a demand for favors, or sexual touching. It can include unwelcome conduct directed at someone because she is a woman, including degrading remarks about women. The EEOC recognizes that gender-based harassment can be nonsexual. Whether a particular pattern is unlawful depends on the facts, including its severity or frequency and the evidence connecting the conduct to sex.
Sources: EEOC: Sexual Harassment · EEOC: Harassment FAQs
[1] U.S. Department of Justice, Report to Congress on Best Practices Regarding Enforcement of Anti-Stalking Laws, framework section - Report to Congress on Best Practices Regarding Enforcement of Anti-Stalking Laws