Stalking a Violent Crime

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Introduction

The essay question I have chosen for this assignment is, “Is stalking a violent crime?” I will define stalking, harassment and violence and indicate several types of stalking. I will explain the motivation behind stalking and describe the environment that would indicate stalking as a violent crime. I will critically analyse the predator and the victim and indicate what environment or personality could ensure violence occurring.

To define stalking many variants need to be taken into account. What is the difference between harassment and stalking? In Australian law for stalking to be a crime the predator must intend to cause physical harm or intend to cause fear for the victim. (Howitt, 2009) Stalking is a form of predator behaviour that is characterized by repeated patterns of harassment to an individual that may frighten the victim or worse, whereas harassment means to annoy or frighten the person several times but will eventually desist. (Howitt, 2009)In 1986 the interpretation of the term „violence‟ suggested interpersonal acts of force usually involving the infliction of physical injury, which suggests violence cannot independently be recognised without the concept of force. Violence is defined as “the exercise of physical force so as to inflict injury on, or be caused apart from its affinity with the notion of force.” (Bufacchi, 2005) Violence is a learned behaviour. It reinforces their power and self efficiency. They have antisocial logic and believe violence is necessary, justified and acceptable. Offenders usually believe they are

the victims. (Howitt, 2009) Typically stalking does not start as a violent crime however the behaviour escalates. The stalking behaviour usually begins with a letter or a telephone call. (Cox & Speziale, 2009)

Behaviours of stalking and harassment can be some of the following examples; annoying telephone