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01-10-2020 | Original Article

Responding to Stalking Victims: Perceptions, Barriers, and Directions for Future Research

Authors: Tim Boehnlein, Jeff Kretschmar, Wendy Regoeczi, Jill Smialek

Published in: Journal of Family Violence | Issue 7/2020

Abstract

Stalking cases have long presented challenges for the criminal justice system. The end result has been low conviction rates for stalking offenses and frustration for stalking victims. To date, little is known regarding the perspectives of criminal justice and community advocacy agencies in working with stalking perpetrators and victims and how these could inform practice and future research. We conducted interviews with individuals in the different agencies involved in the Cuyahoga County, Ohio criminal justice system and well as the victim service organizations that work with stalking victims in the county. We collected information about their perceptions of stalking victims, what obstacles exist to addressing their needs, what changes are needed to increase the charging and prosecution rates for stalking cases, and how different system players draw distinctions between stalking and domestic violence offenders. Key findings include the significant discrepancy perceived between the public’s view of stalking and actual stalking behavior, the varied views of what constitutes a typical stalking victim, the wide range of needs of stalking victims, the challenges to charging and prosecuting stalking cases, and the burden placed on victims in these cases. We conclude by discussing obstacles that exist for victims seeking help from the criminal justice system for stalking behavior and provide suggestions for education and training that could lead to more effective stalking policy and practice. The study concludes with recommendations for future research on stalking.

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This situation only very recently changed with the opening of the Cuyahoga County Family Justice Center in 2015.

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Title: Responding to Stalking Victims: Perceptions, Barriers, and Directions for Future Research
Authors: Tim Boehnlein
Jeff Kretschmar
Wendy Regoeczi
Jill Smialek
Publication date: 01-10-2020
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Family Violence / Issue 7/2020
Print ISSN: 0885-7482
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2851
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-020-00147-3

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Responding to Stalking Victims: Perceptions, Barriers, and Directions for Future Research

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