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Governor Granholm has proclaimed January
2006 Stalking Awareness Month. In 2005, Michigan was one of the first
states in the country to declare a statewide Stalking Awareness Month.
Domestic and sexual violence service providers throughout the state will
be recognizing this important month by honoring stalking victims and survivors
and raising awareness in their local communities.
Michigan defines stalking as, "...a 'willful course
of conduct' involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual
that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated,
threatened, harassed, or molested, and that actually causes the victim
to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested."
[MCLA 750.411h]
Stalking can take many forms, such as:
- Following or appearing within the sight of the targeted
victim.
- Approaching or confronting the targeted victim in a
public or private place.
- Appearing at the workplace or residence of the targeted
victim.
- Entering or remaining on the targeted victim’s
property.
- Contacting the targeted victim by telephone.
- Sending mail or electronic mail to the targeted victim.
- Using recently developed technology such as cell phones,
computers or surveillance equipment to keep tabs on the targeted victim.
The National Institute of Justice indicates that 1 in
12 women and 1 in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime and that 77%
of women and 64% of men know their stalker.
MDVPTB funds 44 domestic violence agencies, all of whom
provide services for stalking victims. Services can include advocacy within
the justice system, counseling and support groups. These programs cover
all 83 counties in Michigan. To locate a program in your area, click
here.
For more information about stalking, contact your
local domestic violence program, the Michigan
Resource Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, or the National
Stalking Resource Center.
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Many resource materials are available through the Michigan
Resource Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence. The Resource Center
is a unique collection of over 3,500 books and 300 videos on domestic
violence, sexual assault, stalking, violence prevention, nonprofit management,
medical and legal response to violence against women, public policy and
much more. The MRCDSV is a collaboration of the Michigan
Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board and the Michigan
Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. The MDVPTB is the
primary funder and owner of the collection.
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