What do you think of when you hear the word “stalking?”
If you’re like most people, you probably think of what we at the Nebraska Coalition would call stereotypes. Images in the media often depict strangers lurking in dark streets to follow the unknowing survivor. In reality, most stalking happens in everyday situations involving people who already know each other.
January is National Stalking Awareness Month, an opportunity to bring more attention to this serious and often misunderstood form of violence. By learning more about the behaviors, motives, and risks associated with stalking, you can help better support survivors and even prevent harm before it happens.
Stalking is a Crime
In Nebraska, stalking is a crime defined under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-311.03. The law describes stalking as a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person that seriously terrifies, threatens, or intimidates them and serves no legitimate purpose.
Key things to know:
- It’s about patterns, not one-time incidents.
- The impact on the survivor/victim matters, not whether the person intended to cause fear.
- Charges can range from a misdemeanor to a felony, especially if weapons, prior offenses, or escalating behavior are involved.
People experiencing stalking can seek support from law enforcement or request a harassment protection order through the civil court system. Violating that order is a criminal offense.
Stalking Is About Patterns
Stalking rarely shows up as a single alarming act. It’s a pattern of behaviors, sometimes subtle, sometimes overt, directed at a specific person over days, months, or even years. The RECON Typology of Stalking notes that stalking cases often last around two years on average, and intimate partner stalking tends to last even longer.
According to SPARC (the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center), stalking behaviors often fall into several categories:
Unwanted Contact
- Repeated calls, texts, emails, or messages
- Showing up uninvited at someone’s home, workplace, or school
- Using others to deliver messages or “check in”
Monitoring and Surveillance
- Tracking phone activity, browser history, or social media
- Using GPS, location-sharing, or spyware apps
- Driving by or “coincidentally” appearing where the person is
- Using hidden cameras or other technology
Information Gathering
- Searching public records or online databases
- Hiring private investigators
- Digging through trash
- Contacting friends, coworkers, neighbors, or family
Manipulation, Intimidation, or Threats
- Spreading rumors or posting information online
- Vandalizing cars, homes, or personal belongings
- Using children to gather information
- Threatening to harm the survivor, others, pets, or themselves
Financial or Identity Abuse
- Accessing or opening accounts
- Stealing money or identity information
It is important to note that this list isn’t comprehensive, and behaviors can shift over time. For help determining if stalking behavior is present in various situations, check out SPARC’s resources for Identifying Stalking Behavior.
Stalking is Increasingly Technology-Facilitated
Today, many stalking behaviors involve technology. According to a 2019 Department of Justice report on stalking, 80% of stalking survivors report being stalked with technology. This could include things like:
- Smart-home devices (cameras, doorbells, thermostats) used for surveillance
- AirTags or GPS devices hidden in cars or bags
- Unauthorized access to email, cloud storage, or financial accounts
The Safety Net Project’s Stalking Survivor Toolkit offers resources with safety tips, information, and privacy strategies for survivors on the use of technology.
Stalking Is About Power and Control
Stalking is an attempt to control, intimidate, or manipulate another person. It can happen in many contexts. SPARC notes that most survivors are stalked by someone they know, such as a current or former intimate partner, acquaintance, or family member.
Importantly, stalking in intimate partner relationships doesn’t only begin when someone tries to leave. One study found that 57% of intimate partner stalking survivors said the stalking began before the relationship ended. This may appear as:
- Checking call logs, message threads, or emails
- Tracking someone’s schedule or movements
- Expecting continuous updates or “proof” of whereabouts
Stalking can also occur in other contexts, such as acquaintances, brief interactions, workplace settings, or after a conflict.
Stalking is Dangerous
Stalking frequently overlaps with other forms of violence, especially domestic violence and sexual assault. One study found that 81% of people who were stalked by a current or former intimate partner had also been physically assaulted by that partner. Other research shows that 31% of women who are stalked by an intimate partner were also sexually assaulted by that partner.
Stalking can also escalate to homicide. A study found that nearly 70% of femicide victims were physically assaulted before their murder. Of those, 90% had also experienced at least one episode of stalking in the 12 months prior to their murder.
According to SPARC, the most dangerous perpetrators are those who:
- Engage in actual pursuit of the survivor
- Possess or are interested in weapons
- Commit other crimes such as vandalism or arson
- Are prone to emotional outbursts and rage
- Have a history of violating protection orders, substance abuse, mental illness and/or violence, especially toward the survivor
- Have made threats of murder or murder-suicide
And the most dangerous times for a stalking survivor are when:
- The survivor has separated from the stalker
- The stalker has been arrested or served with a protection order
- The stalker has a major negative life event, such as the loss of a job or being evicted
- The stalking behavior increases in frequency or escalates in severity
Stalking is Preventable
We can prevent stalking. In fact, we can prevent all forms of power-based violence in our communities by addressing the underlying dynamics of power and control.
Some of our favorite prevention strategies include:
- Promoting healthy relationships and boundaries: Teach consent, communication, and personal space—especially among young people.
- Addressing entitlement and harmful gender norms: Many stalking behaviors grow from the belief that one person has a right to control another.
- Supporting bystander action: Encourage friends, coworkers, and neighbors to notice red flags and intervene safely.
- Holding perpetrators accountable: Strong legal responses deter repeat behavior.
- Creating community awareness: Public education helps people recognize stalking and know how to seek help.
The key to preventing stalking and all forms of intimate partner violence is collective action. No one can do this alone, but together, we can build a future free from violence.
What You Can Do if You Suspect Stalking
If you believe you or someone you know is being stalked:
- Trust your instincts: If something feels unsafe or invasive, take it seriously.
- Document what’s happening: Keep records of messages, calls, incidents, or witnesses if you can do so safely. Check out our stalking incident log.
- Create a safety plan: Consider ways to protect your personal information, routines, and physical safety.
- Reach out for help: Contact your local advocacy organization or law enforcement. Advocates can help you request a harassment protection order or make a safety plan.
Conclusion
We’re not able to take a deep dive into every aspect and consideration of stalking in one article, but we hope this helps you better understand some of the common complexities that stalking survivors encounter.
We truly believe that understanding stalking can help us all better support survivors and even prevent harm from happening in the first place. Stalking Awareness Month is a great time to bring more attention to this serious form of violence. To create meaningful and lasting change, however, we must continue to challenge the behaviors and beliefs that allow stalking to continue.
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