YOU FEEL FOLLOWED - ONLINE AND IN REAL TIME. Beyond being creepy, does it feel threatening and controlling? Stalking isn't about romance, it's about control. It's a form of terrorism. And it can escalate from annoyance to violence. Stop looking over your shoulder!

FIGHT BACK AND RETAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE! Don’t let the sick obsession of a stalker ruin your life. Stalkers say they want romance, but what they really want is control over you. They want to get inside your head. And they can be very persistent, some making regular visits for months and even years. Most start online with social media and unwanted emails and progress into their own creatively creepy offline and in-person ways. They typically research everything they can about you from what they find online and in social media. Some progress to tracking down friends, co-workers and family for more information. They want to learn your habits and tastes to better follow you. They may start to show up where you work or shop. They find where you live and leave evidence of their little visits at your door and even inside your home or locked car. And if you didn't notice that they showed up at your gym during a workout, they will leave a note: "You looked hot in those purple yoga pants this morning.

"A repeated pattern of (unwanted) behavior," like a personal signature, will often emerge. Clients have had notes and small gifts left on their doorstep, unwanted flowers or even pizzas get delivered or the patio furniture is rearranged. One client came home to find two glasses of chardonnay - next to an opened bottle she did not buy - set out on her coffee table and her family photos rearranged. And, there are far darker versions. In cases that escalate, the tokens left on the doorstep become threats instead of love notes and dead flowers or even a dead pet. Some stalkers will go so far as to tell your family, friends, co-workers or even the police that you are paranoid, crazy and falsely accusing them. And, they still continue with their grim games…

Austen & Watson will look at what you have collected to see if there is "a repeated pattern" of unwanted contact and work with you to document more evidence to build a case against your stalker. Austen & Watson will document the behavior in photos, witness statements and other evidence. And, if you chose, you can then discuss your options with an attorney who specializes in anti-stalking cases. You decide whether or not you want to go for a restraining order or more. We work as your support system.  What you need is someone in your corner who listens in detail and figures out a safety plan and ways to get evidence to make the police and others pay attention.

Stalking is defined as "a repeated pattern in which someone directs behavior at a specific person that causes substantial emotional distress in that person."

Unlike Florida, some states don't identify stalking as a threat "until credible threats of bodily harm are made."

Stalking is a serious behavior that often escalates over time and can turn violent in 25% of cases and end up in rape or murder in 2% of cases. A recent study estimated that the chances of a woman being stalked are 1 in 14; for men, it is 1 in 50.

Some women are able to tell their story to police and they, or someone at the courthouse, will help them file a restraining order to keep the stalker away. If the stalker violates the order, the police have grounds to arrest him. Violating a restraining order is like crossing a line, it is more measurable for the police than weighing your anecdotal accusations, regardless of their veracity.  But sometimes, local law enforcement offers no help. Victims may think that evidence gathering should be the job of local law enforcement and prosecutors. But, in the crime of stalking, victims are often the only ones doing that initial work. That may be because of the relative newsness of some stalking laws or because of the inherent difficulty of proving with strong evidence (photos, witness statements etc.) a "repeated pattern of (unwanted) behavior." 

Austen & Watson will help you document evidence. Some stalkers go so far as contacting local police to tell them that a "crazy woman" is falsely accusing him of stalking in hopes the police will not listen to a victim who steps forward. Unfortunately, Austen & Watson has served clients who have been ignored and even laughed at by law enforcement. Austen & Watson will help you stand your ground, build your case with credible evidence and help you talk to law enforcement.

http://www.flcourts.org/core/fileparse.php/273/urlt/STALKING_VIOLENCE_CHECKLIST.pdf

About two-thirds of stalkers pursue their victims at least once per week, many daily, using more than one method. 

What else do stalkers do? Stalkers will:  

• Follow you and show up wherever you are - work, home, school, even where you shop..
• Send unwanted flowers, gifts, letters, or e-mails. They often leave these gifts on your doorstep or even inside your car to let you know they can find you.
• Damage your home, car, or other property.
• Monitor your phone calls or computer use.
• Use technology, including hidden cameras or a GPS to track where you go.
• Drive by or hang out at your home, school, or work.
• Threaten to hurt you, your family, friends, or pets.
• Find out about you by using public records or online search services, hiring investigators, going through your garbage, or contacting friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers.
• Post information or spread rumors about you on the Internet, in a public place, or by word of mouth.
• Tell local police that a "crazy woman" is spreading rumors that he is stalking her to encourage police to dismiss your accusations if you seek help.
• Tell friends, family and co-workers that you are paranoid and crazy.
• Try to "gaslight" you, persuading you that events have not happened that have and make you feel paranoid and crazy.
• Find their own unique and devious ways to track, control and frighten you.

According to the Stalking Resource Center, a program of the National Center for Victims of Crime:

• 7.5 million people are stalked in one year in the United States. 
• The estimated odds of a woman being stalked are 1 in 14; for men it is 1 in 50.
• Over 85% of stalking victims are stalked by someone they know.
• 61% of female victims and 44% of male victims of stalking are stalked by a current or former intimate partner. 
• 25% of female victims and 32% of male victims are stalked by an acquaintance.
• About 1 in 5 of stalking victims are stalked by a stranger. 
• Persons aged 18-24 years experience the highest rate of stalking.
• 11% of stalking victims have been stalked for 5 years or more. 
• 46% of stalking victims experience at least one unwanted contact per week.

In  Stalkers and Their Victims, the authors describe a clinically-oriented classification system:

1. REJECTED STALKERS- These are the most common and dangerous type. They pursue the victim, often an intimate or almost intimate partner, after the relationship ends. They typically acknowledge a complex and volatile mix of reconciliation and revenge. These stalkers often have a history of assault or domestic violence.
2. INTIMACY-SEEKING STALKERS - They want a real relationship with someone they believe is their "true love" and they tend to imbue their victims with exalted attributes. They exalt her beauty, smarts and other traits consistent with their idea of romanticized love. Many have erotomanic delusions and wild infatuations with the victim. Some clients have had the stalker just sit in the same 50-table restaurant and claim they were having a romantic dinner for two. These stalkers see legal sanctions as the price they have to pay for "true love."
3. INCOMPETENT STALKERS - These stalkers know that the target could care less about them, but they feel if they forge ahead, it will lead to a relationship. So they will try to court the victim. Incompetent stalkers are socially inept and intellectually limited.
4. RESENTFUL STALKERS - They try to frighten and freak out the victim. Many have paranoid personality or delusional disorders. They  pursue a vendetta against a specific victim or feel aggrieved by something and chose a victim who fits those traits. They often feel persecuted and go about stalking with righteous indignation.
5. PREDATORY STALKERS - They prepare for sexual assault or worse and frequently have records of prior sexual assault. They stalk to discover the victim's habits and vulnerabilities and the victim is often unaware of the stalking until the attack.