Simply stated, "stalking" is any unwanted contact between the stalker and the victim that communicates a direct or indirect threat and that causes the victim to fear for her/his safety and/or the safety of family members.

How common is stalking in the United States?

• 8.2 million (1 out of 12) women and 2 million (1 out of 45) men will be stalked at some point in their lives.
• 1.4 million people are stalked annually. (Source: Tjaden Report: NVAW Survey, 1998)

How common is stalking on College Campuses?

• 27% of female students and 15% of male students reported that they had been the victim of stalking (Source: Fremou et al. "Stalking on Campus: the Prevalence and Strategies for Coping with Stalking", 1997)

Relationship Between Victim and Stalker

• 77% of female victims know their stalker
• 64% of male victims know their stalker
• 60% of female victims are stalked by an intimate partner (current/former spouse, cohabitant, boyfriend, or girlfriend)
• 30% of men are stalked by an intimate partner (i.e., 70% of men are stalked by an acquaintance or a stranger). (Source: Tjaden Report: NVAW Survey, 1998)

Most Common Types of Stalking Behaviors Reported by Victims

• Female stalking victims most often report being followed, spied on, and receiving unwanted/harassing telephone calls.
• Equal percentages of male and female victims report receiving unwanted letters or items, having their property vandalized, and their pets threatened or even killed.
• Fewer than 50% of both male and female victims report being directly threatened by their stalkers (i.e., majority of stalkers do not threaten their victims verbally or in writing; rather, they most often engage in a course of conduct, that taken in context or as a whole, causes the victim to fear harm). (Source: Tjaden Report: NVAW Survey, 1998)