Stalking is no stranger to the Beaman Home and its clients. With the growing social media climate, stalkers get even braver hiding behind the internet in anonymity.
Stalking is a misunderstood crime with startling statistics: According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, in one year 7.5 million people were stalked in the United States. One in six women and one in 19 men have experienced stalking in their lifetime, and 61 percent of female stalking victims are stalked by someone they know.
The U.S. Department of Justice defines stalking as a pattern of repeated, unwanted contact, harassment, or attention directed at a specific person that would cause them to feel fear. Acts of stalking include repeated, unwanted communications via phone or internet, including text messages, email, and social media; sending unwanted items such as gifts or flowers; following or showing up at a person’s place of residence, work, school, or recreation; damaging one’s property; and/or making direct or indirect threats towards a person, or their family, friends, or pets.
Stalkers often use weapons to threaten and intimidate victims and stalking is a component in 75 percent of domestic homicides. Victims of stalking often face anxiety and depression, and can even lose work time (or their jobs) as a result of stalking.
The Beaman Home wishes to reduce the stigma around stalking and domestic violence in our community by providing open communication of issues along with providing options and a safe-haven for those experiencing the trauma of these events. If you, or someone you know, is being stalked or traumatized by domestic violence or abuse – there is help! Please do not hesitate to contact Beaman Home’s toll free 24-7 Crisis Hotline at 877-725-9363.
