NCJ Number
187623
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 46 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2001 Pages: 367-369
Date Published
March 2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This study ascertained the amount of stalking occurring on the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) (Massachusetts) campus, where computers play such a large role in the lives of the students.
Abstract
A survey was sent via e-mail to a randomly selected group of full-time undergraduate students (600) and faculty and staff (142). The survey focused on experiences of stalking victimization through e-mails. Respondents were provided with the following definition of stalking under Massachusetts law: "A pattern of conduct directed at a specific person which is threatening, causes emotional distress, and places the victim in fear of harm." Respondents were asked whether they had been stalked, and if so, the methods used by the stalker. They were also asked whether they had ever stalked anyone, and if so, what methods they used and where/how they obtained information about the person. The responses to the survey were correlated with whether a respondent had been stalked, was a stalker, or was neither. The results of this survey were compared with a stalking study done at West Virginia University (WVU). The authors were surprised to find a smaller percentage of both females and males were stalked at WPI. The use of the Internet did not play a major role in stalking as had been expected. Further analysis indicates that much less stalking occurs among the general population than at WVU or WPI. 4 tables and 8 references