January is National Stalking Awareness Month

In December, President Biden declared January 2024 to be National Stalking Awareness Month with these words:

"This month, we shine a harsh light on these crimes to make clear that this kind of harassment, threat, or unwanted aggressive attention has no place in America."

SPARC, a project of AEquitas, which is funded by the Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women, has designated January 18th as a Day of Action, one in which to spread information on stalking and its heinous impacts on people across the nation.

Stalking affects one in three women and one in six men. It takes place in countless communities and often occurs with other crimes. It may take many forms. Whatever the form, it is devastating for the targeted individuals.

While most people equate stalkers with unhinged or obsessed persons who follow, harass, assault, and sometimes kill their victims due to an irrational preoccupation with them, there are other stalkers in the community who carry out the same types of vicious activities because they covet a co-worker's job or a neighbor's property. These types of stalkers are on the rise and concerned citizens are starting to take note and are developing plans to provide assistance to their victims.

This month, I invite you to join the efforts of SPARC, dedicated law enforcement, and victims' service providers, to spread awareness about stalking. It is only through awareness that we will be able to assist targeted individuals and provide them with the justice that they so deserve.

STALKING : KNOW IT NAME IT STOP IT