NCJ Number
234582
Editor(s)
Sandy Bromley J.D.
Date Published
2010
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This guide provides law enforcement professionals with a basic understanding of stalking and guidelines for conducting effective stalking investigations.
Abstract
It is estimated that 3.4 million people are stalked every year in the United States; in New Mexico, approximately 1 in 4 women and 1 in 14 men will be stalked in their lifetime. New Mexico's legislature passed a stalking statute in 1997 and refined it in 2009. This guide proposes that law enforcement receive training and guidance on the identification and investigation of stalking cases. Findings suggest that early identification and effective disposition of stalking cases can prevent future criminal behavior while keeping communities safe; that law enforcement plays a crucial role in keeping stalking victims safe and holding stalkers accountable for their criminal behavior; and that clear policy and guidance from agency leadership, comprehensive training on stalking identification and investigation techniques, and consistent application of the principles discussed in this guide will allow law enforcement to fulfill this role. Topics in this guide include: understanding stalking; New Mexico Statutes; investigating stalking; threat assessments and safety planning; evidence collection; investigator considerations, such as intelligence collection on suspect's patterns of conduct; orders of protection; explaining the victim's role in the investigation; early police intervention; and neutralizing the stalker.