Stalking

The role of stalking in murder and other violent crimes merits exploration because it can help to explain both cognitive and behavioral aspects of victim selection and the process of criminal behavior. The act of stalking did not become a crime in the United States until 1990, when the State of California passed antistalking statutes to protect individuals or groups from harassment, intimidation, or violence. Since then, every state has implemented some form of antistalking legislation. The behavior generally requires three elements: a pattern of harassment over a period of time, implied or explicit threats, and intent to harm, intimidate, or create great emotional stress. The media often publicize high-profile stalking of celebrities, such as tennis star Monica Seles, who in 1993 was stabbed during ...