Research has shown that over 80% of victims who were stalked by an intimate partner were also physically assaulted by that partner. In addition, nearly 90% of femicide cases with a history of physical abuse also included at least one episode of stalking in the 12 months prior to the murder. Yet despite the vast amount of research demonstrating a correlation between intimate partner violence and stalking, stalking behaviors are often eclipsed by the more recognizable crimes of domestic and sexual violence and are not identified by criminal justice professionals and are therefore not frequently charged.
Part I of this webinar series will explore the importance of recognizing stalking in intimate partner violence cases. It is important that judges who hear intimate partner violence, protection order, and violation of protection order cases recognize the intersection of stalking with these crimes and identify it as a risk factor for increased violence. This recognition can lead to enhanced victim safety and offender accountability in criminal and protection order cases.
As a result of this webinar participants will be able to:
- Identify ways in which stalking intersects with domestic and sexual violence
- List risk factors that indicate an increase in violence including lethality
- List strategies for hearing these types of cases in their courtrooms