While legal definitions of stalking vary from one jurisdiction to another, a good working definition of stalking is: a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.
However, the term “stalking” is more commonly used to describe specific kinds of behavior directed at a particular person, such as harassing or threatening another person. But the variety of specific strategies employed and behaviors displayed by stalkers are limited only by the creativity and ingenuity of the stalkers themselves. Suffice it to say, virtually any unwanted contact between a stalker and their victim which directly or indirectly communicates a threat or places the victim in fear can generally be referred to as stalking.
Stalking Protection Orders
A person may obtain a Stalking Protective Order if he/she or a member of the immediate family or household has been the subject of stalking and qualifies under Oregon law. For more information on obtaining a Stalking Protection Order, visit OregonLawHelp.org
January is Stalking Awareness Month
Throughout the month of January, watch the Coalition’s Facebook and Twitter pages for informative articles, facts and stats, and other awareness-raising materials.
External links
- WomensLaw.org – Stalking Protection Orders provides a detailed explanation of the civil-legal process of obtaining a Stalking Protection Order in Oregon.
- The National Center for Victims of Crime offers state-by-state and federal law summaries of criminal and civil statutes regarding stalking.
- The Stalking Resource Center has a Information Clearing house that provides a wide range of useful information for practitioners.
Stalking