Welcome to the Director's Desk

Through this web page, I will provide you information about ongoing and upcoming events within the Arizona Department of Corrections.   You are welcome to submit suggestions or comments to media@azcorrections.gov.  Thank you for your interest in the ADC.

January 8, 2008

NATIONAL STALKING AWARENESS MONTH

 January is the 5th annual observance of National Stalking Awareness Month.

According to the US Justice Department, over a million women and nearly 400,000 men are stalked annually in the United States.  Officials estimate one in 12 women and one in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime.  Over 75 percent of female homicide victims were stalked prior to their death, and more than half of these victims reported stalking to the police before being murdered by their stalkers. 

Arizona is one of the first states in the country to observe Stalking Awareness Month, bringing attention to this serious crime.  In 2005, Governor Janet Napolitano signed important legislation to protect stalking and domestic violence victims from having their home residences listed on public web sites that previously showed victims residential addresses.

Stalking is defined as a course of conduct, directed at a specific person, which would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.  It is a criminal offense under both state and federal laws.  Acts of stalking include unwanted phone calls, delivery of unwanted letters or items, vandalized property, threats against family members and pets, physical assault and murder.

National Stalking Awareness Month increases the public’s awareness of stalking.  Its genesis was motivated by the death of Peggy Klinke, a stalking victim who was murdered by an ex-boyfriend after repeatedly seeking law enforcement intervention.

If you have questions or need more information about stalking, please contact the Arizona Department of Corrections, Office of Victim Services at 602-542-1853 or the Governor’s Advisor for Victims at 602-542-4043.

Return