Stalking-Related Crimes Should Be Paid More Attention - Essay Example

Stalking-related crimes should be paid more attention Introduction In the 21st century, most people are still not aware of their rights and what they should when they are faced with certain challenges or crimes in the course of their daily lives. In this era that has been dominated by technology in the use of social media platforms, crimes such as stalking have been increased. This is one of the negative effects of technology in the world. Rather, the social media platforms have been used as an avenue to stalk people mainly for the wrong reasons globally today. In most cases, people who are stalked are normally innocent, and they hardly know that they are being stalked (James & Farmham 432). Basically, stalking can be referred to as a repetitive pattern of harassment and threatening of an individual’s life by another person. This kind of crime is normally carried out in various ways. Firstly, it can be through phone harassment where a strange number call you with no valid reason but mainly to threaten you. Secondly, one could be followed to wherever he or she is heading to which can be quite intimidating and full of fear. Further, an individual could be receiving strange gifts from strangers. Due to the rise in this crime in different states in the country, the federal government has passed various rules to take care and give directions for this type of crime. Body Stalking related crimes are potentially dangerous than other crimes due to various reasons as discussed below. To start with, most stalkers have ill intention on the individuals they are stalking. Some of them harass the victims sexually, but they mostly exhibit anger and pure hostility on the victims. Victims of this type of crime normally believe that their attackers are obsessed and that they want to control their lives (Meloy & Gothard 258). Secondly, victims of this kind of crime normally experience negative psychological effects being stalked. This is mostly exhibited in the form of fear for their safety. This mostly leads to depression as they can longer control their lives and move freely without fear that they are being watched. Secondly, most people who are stalked never seek medical attention or help in the form of counseling in order to handle the situation wisely. Most of these victims normally end up being stressed (Staff 1). Further, it can also be noted that these victims tend to miss their jobs for the fear of unknown hoping that their attackers are tracking them down to wherever they are going to (Meloy 161). In my opinion, I believe that a stalker is not different from any other crime offender because at the end of the day they all cause harm and discomfort to the victim. In fact, they do more harm to a victim because their stalking behavior is quite consistent which can be intimidating to the victim. A stalker normally tracks the victim through all possible means where the victim even knows that a total stranger is involved in stalking. This brings fear, anxiety and discomfort on the side of the victim (Staff 1). In a modern day life, victims tend to hire private investigators to know why they are being stalked and for what reasons. This is an expensive exercise and an exhausting one which mostly leads to stress and depression on the side of the victim (Rosenfeld 16). A stalker is even more dangerous because he or she is likely to assault the victim. In my opinion, any other crime offender has his or her goal but I believe that a stalker main goal is to assault the victim either sexually, physically and more so psychologically. This causes more harm to an individual than any other crime offender. Additionally, a stalker is more likely to assault a third party in his or her mission to attack the victim. In most cases, the third party is totally unaware of what is happening. Therefore, when the victim is being attacked, he or she tries to save him or her. Hence, he may end up getting hurt because he was not prepared for any attack. Also, a stalker may not like to leave any evidence or a witness during his time of the attack on the victim. In other cases, the stalker is more likely to threaten the properties of the victim during his or her mission. Unlike any other crime offender, his main goal is to do harm to these victims in order to achieve his mission (Tjaden & Theonnes 10- 12). Society view on stalking Most people in the society are not fully aware that stalking is a crime that should be reported to the necessary authorities. Most victims of stalking are not aware of the steps to take. Therefore, after instances of stalking, they hardly report because they are afraid no one will listen to them (Staff 1). Further, in the 21st century, most people assume that stalking is a common thing especially in this era that has been dominated by the use of social media platforms when people of different regions, races, culture meet and interact. From the previous surveys that have been conducted by various bodies in relation to stalking, most victims tend to give their personal information to strangers unknowingly that they are threatening their lives. In some cases, people with ill intentions can also employ stalkers in order to achieve something. This is mainly meant to investigate an individual’s behaviors and movements. The victim may be having important information concerning something that they want to know. If the victim in any way tends to pose a threat of giving it to the required parties, then this is the time when the attacker achieves the mission. Also, most people believe that stalking is a normal thing to happen. They are not fully aware that they should report this cases o the necessary authority. Recently, the federal government of this country passed a bill that defines how his issue of stalking should be taken care of in cases where it happens and how the victims should be handed. In my opinion, I believe that the federal government should put the necessary measures in place also create awareness to the members of the public on this alarming issue in the society today. Through this, the society, in general, will take the issue seriously and help the victims of stalking accordingly. People will also know their rights and what they should do when they are affected. The reported rate for stalking is much lower than of any other crime. The reason behind this is that people hardly know that this is an issue that should be reported. Hence, they assume that they should handle it individually other that reporting it to the necessary authorities (Staff 1). As discussed earlier, most people also believe stalking is also a negative effect that has been brought by technology in the use of social media platforms in the world today. Conclusion Stalking is an issue that most people believe that it’s a common thing. Therefore, people hardly know that they should report it to the necessary authorities. In most cases, victims normally do not know what they should do when they are attacked (Staff 1). Therefore, I believe that the federal government should put effective measures into place in order to help these victims. In my opinion, help line numbers should be put in place where victims should report these cases. Additionally, centers for counseling for the victims should also be set up in order to them psychologically to overcome what they have gone through. Works Cited James, D., and F. Farnham. "Stalking and Serious Violence." Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law 31 (2003): 432-439. Print Meloy, J.R. “The psychology of stalking: Clinical and forensic perspectives.” West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, 2002. Print Meloy, J.R., & Gothard, SA. “Demographic and clinical comparison of obsessional followers and offenders with mental disorders.”  American Journal of Psychiatry 152 (1995): 152, 258-263. Print Rosenfeld, B., "Violence Risk Factors in Stalking and Obsessional Harassment: A Review and Preliminary Meta-analysis." Criminal Justice and Behavior 31(1) (2004): 9-36. Print Staff, F.P. “Stalking and the society: What drove two Rohtak girls to suicide?” Firstpost.com. Web. 04 May 2015 Tjaden, P., & Theonnes, N. “Stalking in American: Findings from the national violence against women survey.” Ncjrs.gov. Web. 04 May 2015. Read More