NEW YORK, Jan. 13, 2009

1 Out Of 100 Americans Is Being Stalked

Survey Reveals 3.4 Million Have Identified Themselves As Victims, Many For 5 Or More Years

  • According to the survey, about half of stalking victims experienced at least one unwanted contact per week, and 11 percent had been stalked for five years or longer. Photo

    According to the survey, about half of stalking victims experienced at least one unwanted contact per week, and 11 percent had been stalked for five years or longer.  (AP)

  • Interactive How To Avoid A Stalker

    Expert advice on handling a stalker, laws by state, and stars who have been targets.

(CBS/AP)  Forty-five year-old Olidia Kerr Day was targeted by a stalker-a man she befriended at her local grocery store and hired to work in her home. One day he showed up with a gun. She escaped to the local police station, frantically calling 911 on her way.

Day was gunned down in the parking lot of the Plantation, Fla. police station.

"He hunted her down like a dog and he killed her," said Edward Day, Olidia Kerr Day's son. "She never had a chance."

While day's story is extreme, stalking is much more common than previous research had shown, reports CBS news correspondent Sandra Hughes.

An estimated 3.4 million Americans identified themselves as victims of stalking during a one-year span, according to federal crime experts who on Tuesday released the largest-ever survey of the aggravating and often terrifying phenomenon.

About half of the victims experienced at least one unwanted contact per week from a stalker, and 11 percent had been stalked for five or more years, according to the report by the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics. It covered a 12-month period in 2005-06.

The study was described as a groundbreaking effort to analyze the scope and varying forms of stalking, which had not been featured in previous versions of the National Crime Victimization Survey.

The researchers defined stalking as a course of conduct, directed at a specific person on at least two separate occasions, that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. The most commonly reported types of stalking were unwanted phone calls (66 percent), unsolicited letters or e-mail (31 percent), or having rumors spread about the victim (36 percent).

More than one-third of the victims reported being followed or spied upon; some said they were tracked by electronic monitoring, listening devices or video cameras.



On The Early Show Wednesday, Michelle Archer, a director at Safe Horizon in New York and a stalking survivor, shared tips on preventing stalking, with co-anchor Julie Chen:





"The prevalence of cell phones and e-mails and GPS devices - this doesn't create more stalkers than used to exist, but it gives the stalker another tool in their toolkit" Cindy Dyer, director of the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women, told Hughes.

But it's a toolkit that police and prosecutors can use, too, and some say that electronic record have been crucial to their successful prosecutions.

Nearly 75 percent of victims knew their stalker in some capacity - most commonly a former spouse or ex-boyfriend/girlfriend.

Women were far more likely than men to be stalking victims, and people who were divorced or separated were more vulnerable than other marital categories. People aged 18-24 were more likely to be stalked than older people.

Victims reported suffering a range of emotions because of the stalking. Their most common fears included not knowing what would happen next (46 percent) and fearing the stalking would continue indefinitely (29 percent). Nine percent of the victims said their worst fear was death.

"All your freedom is taken away. All of a sudden going for a run or coming home by yourself - all those things began to be panic," one stalking victim, who was afraid to be identified, told Hughes

According to the report, about 130,000 victims said they had been fired or asked to leave their job because of problems arising from the stalking. About one in eight of all employed victims lost time from work, either for fear for their safety or to pursue activities such as seeking a restraining order or testifying in court.

Fast Fact

According to the report, about 130,000 victims said they had been fired or asked to leave their job because of problems arising from the stalking.

Mary Lou Leary, a former federal prosecutor who is executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime, said she was struck by the persistence of some of the stalking behavior depicted in the report.

"When you consider the impact that stalking has on a victim's life, five weeks is forever - five years is incredible," she said. "They often have to give up their current life, leave their jobs, their homes, establish a whole new identity."

Leary credited law enforcement authorities with taking stalking serious, but she said more needs to be done to strengthen anti-stalking laws and to expand the resources to combat it.

The federal government and all 50 states have enacted laws making stalking a crime, but the laws and definitions of stalking vary widely.

The survey's authors tracked a range of stalking behaviors, including waiting for the victim at a certain location, sending unwanted messages or leaving an unwanted present.

"While individually these acts may not be criminal, collectively and repetitively these behaviors may cause a victim to fear for his or her safety or the safety of a family member," the report said.

About 40 percent of the victims reported the stalking to the police, and about one-fifth filed charges.

The largest previous study of stalking, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2005, estimated that 7 million women and 2 million men in the U.S. had been stalked at some time during their life. It found that violence was committed against the stalking victims in at least 25 percent of the cases.


For more information:
  • Bureau of Justice Statistics
  • National Center for Victims of Crimes

    © MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Add a Comment See all 80 Comments
    by alanw1077 January 13, 2009 11:16 AM PST
    It''s Bush''s fault!

    heh heh heh
    Reply to this comment
    by summarex January 13, 2009 11:19 AM PST
    A far greater percentage of American have been driven to paranoia by media alarmism. Most of them feel they are being stalked.
    Reply to this comment
    by elramees January 13, 2009 11:27 AM PST
    In my case, it''s not stalking. It has been terrorist harassment by the state and its law enforcement gurus, but I have placed this entity and individuals in the hand of HOLY GOD, HE will act and not re-act. HE has spoken and cannot lie.
    Reply to this comment
    by ranger2930 January 13, 2009 11:29 AM PST
    Bout time to buy a 45... that''ll teach em...

    "I never knew a Dame that didn''t understand a slap in the mouth, or a slug from a 45..." Play it Again Sam

    But, I like AlanW1077 "It''s Bush''s fault"
    Reply to this comment
    by pirmin3 January 13, 2009 11:37 AM PST
    Sounds like there a lot of nut cases out there with no life who wish they were being stalked.
    Reply to this comment
    by juliesatx January 13, 2009 11:52 AM PST
    deltadon1 - Yeah, show those women who''s boss, YOU...... RIGHT?????? Give me a break. A real women will give you a slap in the mouth back. I''m sure you would''ve earned it. Who are you people that comment on this website...buncha crazies!!! Where are you from? I''ll be sure to never move there.
    Reply to this comment
    by tngreen January 13, 2009 11:59 AM PST
    Please read *The Gift of Fear,* by Gavin deBecker. Best insights into stalking behavior ever. Should be required reading in every middle and high school.
    Reply to this comment
    by smurfcrusher January 13, 2009 12:00 PM PST
    I rather wish a woman would stalk me. :(
    Reply to this comment
    by evian_ycnan January 13, 2009 12:03 PM PST
    Given the "No-Fly Lists", the Pentagon Data Mining projects, and the Bush White House illegal wiretaps with collusion from the tele-coms...

    The term "stalking" loses its significance...
    Reply to this comment
    by biblethumpar January 13, 2009 12:13 PM PST
    smurfcrusher, be careful what you wish for,
    rowdy goes back in heat soon....
    Reply to this comment
    by claytonantho January 13, 2009 12:30 PM PST
    I know of a few lonely people who wish they could be that one out of a hundred.
    Reply to this comment
    by otiswestfall January 13, 2009 12:45 PM PST
    Keep in mind that being stalked normally implies that the stalker is not welcome by the stalkee. In my 20''s I was always the stalker. Now in my late 40''s, I''m the stalkee, and I don''t think its quite so funny. Of course these are just former girlfriends who thought they had found their free lunch program in me, but I didn''t go through with it. I told one I was going to get a restraining order against her. She dared me to do it. Meanwhile, she still drives by my house twice a week and sits two rows behind me in church.
    Reply to this comment
    by erasmus606 January 13, 2009 12:50 PM PST
    Sounds like there a lot of nut cases out there with no life who wish they were being stalked.

    Posted by pirmin3 at 11:37 AM : Jan 13, 2009

    Are you talking about DaVicar?:)


    Reply to this comment
    by doctajim January 13, 2009 12:57 PM PST
    Not funny. I''ve been stalked 3x that I know of, went to the police twice to get TPOs, and it resulted in two trips to court. All were female (15, 18, 23) - one "hangup-called" as many as 30 times in a day, the 15 yo called me 102 times in 14 days (via caller ID). None of these women I had any sexual contact with - only befriended. When I went to the local Sheriff''s office to get a TPO against the 23 yo, the deputy asked if I "had *** with her". When I replied, "No, of course not", he suggested that I "f*** her and maybe she''ll leave you alone". I think the number of guys NOT reporting is higher than the women who''ve reported - we know we''ll be scoffed at if we do report.
    Reply to this comment
    by dronemonk January 13, 2009 1:02 PM PST
    1 Out Of 100 Americans Are Imprisoned too (that leads the world in both real and per-capita numbers). What''s sad is the number of people who believe we need more people in prison. Like "stalkers". When I was a kid, most "stalkers" were called "secret admirers".
    Reply to this comment
    by shanev137 January 13, 2009 1:04 PM PST
    some said they were tracked by electronic monitoring, listening devices or video cameras.

    -----------


    Yea.....and how many of them are just paranoid/delusional schizophrenics who wish someone was stalking them.
    Reply to this comment
    by matrixrx2003 January 13, 2009 1:06 PM PST
    Lots of Crazy Lonely People out there.

    I have been Stalked Two times and got in there face for Stalking me in public & thats the best way is to imbarace them and I called both of them crazy and told them to leave me the FRACK alone or I will call the police next time I catch you Stalking me or following me.

    I told them to get a Frackin LIFE ! & NO I did not F them & thats what they probably wanted in the first place.
    Reply to this comment
    by heartlandjim January 13, 2009 1:07 PM PST
    The cellphone is the greatest stalking tool ever invented!!
    Reply to this comment
    by erasmus606 January 13, 2009 1:16 PM PST
    When I was a kid, most "stalkers" were called "secret admirers".

    Posted by Dronemonk at 01:02 PM : Jan 13, 2009"

    Yeah? Well today they are called "tormentors", and some may be even called "killers".
    Reply to this comment
    by dronemonk January 13, 2009 1:30 PM PST
    I don''t think there are as many stalkers as there are people complaining about being stalked. I think it''s a sad side effect of striving to pump up the self esteem in our children like we do...Of course they''re being stalked, they''re just that awesome. Ask them and they''ll tell you. I mean, driving by your house twice a week, and sitting near you in church on Sundays constitutes stalking? And the quickness with which people will run to the police these days. Neighbor making too much noise? Call the cops. Seeing too much of a persistent old flame? Call the cops. I''ve no doubt that there are criminal stalkers out there. But 1 in 100? Sounds like a function of ego on the part of the self-proclaimed victims.
    Reply to this comment
    by exaf74 January 13, 2009 1:30 PM PST
    1 Out Of 100 Americans Are Being Stalked.

    Yea, by the government!
    Reply to this comment
    by stinginrich January 13, 2009 1:35 PM PST
    1 Out Of 100 Americans Are Being Stalked.

    Yea, by the government!


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Posted by ExAF74 at 01:30 PM : Jan 13, 2009
    + report abuse

    Actually, it''s 100 out of 100. Shrub''s Illegal Domestic Spying and Eavesdropping Program is constantly monitoring and listening to every phone call and e-mail in the U.S..
    Talk about creepy or scary.....
    Reply to this comment
    by welshwoman-2009 January 13, 2009 1:47 PM PST
    Actually, there are quite a few stalkers and it is the untreated mental illness in this country which is the real problem. That''s why you need the 2nd Amendment right to defend yourself.
    Reply to this comment
    by louiville2 January 13, 2009 1:47 PM PST
    Actually, it''''s 100 out of 100. Shrub''''s Illegal Domestic Spying and Eavesdropping Program is constantly monitoring and listening to every phone call and e-mail in the U.S..
    Talk about creepy or scary.....


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Posted by stinginrich at 01:35 PM

    Just wait until Obama starts the rectal exam''s, that will get you singing.
    Reply to this comment
    by jillyjean2 January 13, 2009 2:20 PM PST
    I have been stalked by ex''s and have had ex''s that were hoping I''d like to stalk them LOL...but by far the worst stalking came from a group of sociologist who were interested in the extramarital habits of my ex fiance. They consisted mostly of off duty cops, and student interns and were funded by government grants... What ever happened to MY rights to privacy? It was so nice to get a postcard about illegal wiretapping of my home...that court order stopped them for only a few months and they went right back to it...drumming up some stupid stories about drugs we never used to have the right to tap ( invade our privacy) to further some terribly unethical study for some creep to try to get a position at the university of Minnesota. WOW he didn''t get the post...did it ever occur to him how unethical it is to harangue people? Nope! I even went to the guys car and talked to him...They stop at nothing. Now to further this unethical study they are still studying my *** life( lol non existant) ( the ex and I have been apart over 10 years) and my adult children''s *** life, like being gay or bisexual is contagious or inherited. I am now a born again and am abstinant! Let them go to church with me it might do them some good. I dare them!
    Reply to this comment
    by docadams3 January 13, 2009 2:28 PM PST
    Some child custody decrees are basically a license to stalk and harass, giving no notice or 24-hr notice, etc. I wish the feds would do something about that.
    Reply to this comment
    by comeon11 January 13, 2009 2:38 PM PST
    How many of them are paranoid/ schizos? The other 99? All this fear mongering is ridiculous. what is the purpose of this article- who thinks about conducting such a research? this is plain stupid.
    Reply to this comment
    by b4ucmyi January 13, 2009 2:46 PM PST
    Actually, it''''s 100 out of 100. Shrub''''s Illegal Domestic Spying and Eavesdropping Program is constantly monitoring and listening to every phone call and e-mail in the U.S..
    Talk about creepy or scary.....

    Posted by stinginrich at 01:35 PM : Jan 13, 2009

    ...and your post is at the top of their list!
    Reply to this comment
    by wwudiver January 13, 2009 2:49 PM PST
    How many of these stalkers are the NSA?
    Reply to this comment
    by shanev137 January 13, 2009 2:53 PM PST
    I think a lot of people wish they could have a stalker, especially people over 40.
    Reply to this comment
    by jxknowles January 13, 2009 3:10 PM PST
    As a victim of stalking by members of both sexes, I can appreciate the terror it brings. It''s a horrible situation and nothing to joke about.

    My only advice is to not be ashamed. Let others around you know what is going on and how you feel. It''s important to have a good support group when this happens.
    Reply to this comment
    by pgrote9707 January 13, 2009 3:22 PM PST
    If you''ve ever been stalked you won''t find humor in or disbelieve this article. I was stalked by an abusive ex for years. It was not flattering or exciting. These people are seriously disturbed and dangerous. He ruined my life and when he died recently, I have to admit I was relieved.
    Reply to this comment
    by brannigon January 13, 2009 3:46 PM PST
    One out of a hundred being stalked, eh? Anybody who stalks me or my family will find themselves in hell!!! Bet on it!!!
    Reply to this comment
    by impeach___w January 13, 2009 4:03 PM PST
    I bet it''s the 1 % without Guns.
    Reply to this comment
    by docpeter1953 January 13, 2009 4:23 PM PST
    From the above article, ''The researchers defined stalking as a course of conduct, directed at a specific person on at least two separate occasions, that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. The most commonly reported types of stalking were unwanted phone calls (66 percent), unsolicited letters or e-mail (31 percent), or having rumors spread about the victim (36 percent).''

    _______________________

    I thought those guys were bill collectors!!!!! Hmmmmmm! Now I know I was in real danger. Annie get my gun!
    Reply to this comment
    by docpeter1953 January 13, 2009 4:26 PM PST
    From the above article, ''Victims reported suffering a range of emotions because of the stalking. Their most common fears included not knowing what would happen next (46 percent) and fearing the stalking would continue indefinitely (29 percent). Nine percent of the victims said their worst fear was death.''
    __________________

    Yep, I was right! They arre bill collectors. Except for the last one there, the 9%ers, all are correct. My debtors don''t want me dead, at least i don''t think they do. I ain''t got no insurance so as long as i am alive there is some hope of being paid back.
    Reply to this comment
    by mswolfestock January 13, 2009 4:26 PM PST
    My stalker left me alone after I -

    Bought a .38,
    registered the weapon,
    took firearms safety classes,
    practiced at the firing range,

    AND MOST IMPORTANTLY -

    I obtained a Permit To Carry A Concealed Weapon.

    Once the Legal Notice was published in the paper, the son of a b*i*t*c*h vanished into thin air.

    He''s probably like most stalkers -- a HUGE COWARD.
    Reply to this comment
    by docpeter1953 January 13, 2009 4:29 PM PST
    Actually, it''''''''s 100 out of 100. Shrub''''''''s Illegal Domestic Spying and Eavesdropping Program is constantly monitoring and listening to every phone call and e-mail in the U.S..
    Talk about creepy or scary.....

    Posted by stinginrich at 01:35 PM : Jan 13, 2009
    ------------

    ...and your post is at the top of their list!

    Posted by b4ucmyI at 02:46 PM : Jan 13, 2009

    _____________

    You forgot to say congratulations!
    Reply to this comment
    by promaclaura January 13, 2009 4:31 PM PST
    I have a stalker. It started with filthy phone calls spread over years. It wasn''t until I had three encounters at my grocery store that I knew someone had an unhealthy obsession with me. The dirty letter left on my car was downright creepy. The weird part is that I now know who it is and it''s an acquantance. I would ruin alot of lives if I revealed this, so instead I have given trustworthy people I know his name. It''s a terrible feeling to be watched.
    Reply to this comment
    by jocly52 January 13, 2009 4:39 PM PST
    Nevermind the dogs, BEWARE OF OWNER!
    Reply to this comment
    by bozworth4 January 13, 2009 4:55 PM PST
    I thought those guys were bill collectors!!!!! Hmmmmmm! Now I know I was in real danger. Annie get my gun!

    Posted by docpeter1953

    In my town it''s the police!!! Fox guarding the hen house.
    Reply to this comment
    by tmittelstaed January 13, 2009 5:15 PM PST
    My only advice to any women being stalked by an ex - get yourself a gun ASAP and get a concealed weapons permit asap. And if you see the phucker then don''t hesitate to take a shot at him.
    Reply to this comment
    by nordeck52 January 13, 2009 5:28 PM PST
    Don''t forget to include the paparazzi in the list of creeps, because their entire job is about stalking people!
    Reply to this comment
    by dronemonk January 13, 2009 5:30 PM PST
    Claiming that you''re always being watched is a classic sign of mental illness.
    Reply to this comment
    by erasmus606 January 13, 2009 5:31 PM PST
    The weird part is that I now know who it is and it''''s an acquantance. I would ruin alot of lives if I revealed this, so instead I have given trustworthy people I know his name. It''''s a terrible feeling to be watched.

    Posted by promaclaura at 04:31 PM : Jan 13, 2009

    So wait.....let me get this straight.....You would rather him ruin YOUR life? You have no idea of what this person could do. I think the word for you is STUPID.
    Reply to this comment
    by erasmus606 January 13, 2009 5:33 PM PST
    I would ruin alot of lives if I revealed this, so instead I have given trustworthy people I know his name.

    Posted by promaclaura at 04:31 PM : Jan 13, 2009

    And what are these TRUSTWORTHY people going to do AFTER you have been RAPED or KILLED?
    Reply to this comment
    by thisandthat1 January 13, 2009 6:38 PM PST
    I don''t believe those numbers for a minute. It doesn''t make sense. Most likely it should read that 1 out of 100 people THINK they''re being stalked!
    Reply to this comment
    by timsmiff January 13, 2009 7:30 PM PST
    I am aware of a couple of people where I live you have been stalked by groups of people for several years now. They can find no assistance from the authorities other than being told to seek psychological help. Although they have witnesses, law enforcement refuses to do anything. We need stronger laws and law enforcement that will actually protect our Constitutional rights and enforce the laws on the books.
    Reply to this comment
    by spiritwalk January 13, 2009 7:36 PM PST
    Does this include people under IRS audit?
    Reply to this comment
    by clathrate January 13, 2009 7:45 PM PST
    Here stalker, here stalker, come on boy. That''s it, closer, closer...BLAMMO! Wow, that .45 GoldDot sure ripped you a new one, didn''t it boy? Did the little stalker get a bad little owie? Did the stalker bleed out like a stuck pig? Better luck in the afterlife.
    Reply to this comment
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