Q: What is cyberstalking?
A: In general, it’s the use of the Internet, e-mail, or other electronic communications devices to stalk another person. (From Cyberstalking, US Attorney General, 1999)
Q: How is it different than other types of stalking?
(From Cyberstalking, US Attorney General, 1999)
A: Major Similarities
* Majority of cases involve stalking by former intimates, although stranger stalking occurs in the real world and in cyberspace.
* Most victims are women; most stalkers are men.
* Stalkers are generally motivated by the desire to control the victim.
Major Differences
* Offline stalking generally requires the perpetrator and the victim to be located in the same geographic area; cyberstalkers may be located across the street or across the country.
* Electronic communications technologies make it much easier for a cyberstalker to encourage third parties to harass and/or threaten a victim (e.g., impersonating the victim and posting inflammatory messages to bulletin boards and in chat rooms, causing viewers of that message to send threatening messages back to the victim "author.")
* Electronic communications technologies also lower the barriers to harassment and threats; a cyberstalker does not need to physically confront the victim.
Q: What are the effects of cyberstalking? (From www.nvcv.org: National Center for Victims of Crime)
A: Just because cyberstalking does not include physical contact with the perpetrator does not mean it is not as threatening or frightening as any other type of crime. Victims of cyberstalking often experience psychological trauma, as well as physical and emotional reactions as a result of their victimization. Some of these effects may include:
changes in sleeping and eating patterns
nightmares
hypervigilance
anxiety
helplessness
fear for safety
shock and disbelief
Q; What can you do if you are a victim? (From www.nvcv.org: National Center for Victims of Crime)
A: Victims who are under the age of 18 should tell their parents or another adult they trust about any harassments and/or threats.
* Experts suggest that in cases where the offender is known, victims should send the stalker a clear written warning. Specifically, victims should communicate that the contact is unwanted, and ask the perpetrator to cease sending communications of any kind. Victims should do this only once. Then, no matter the response, victims should under no circumstances ever communicate with the stalker again. Victims should save copies of this communication in both electronic and hard copy form.
* If the harassment continues, the victim may wish to file a complaint with the stalker's Internet service provider, as well as with their own service provider. Many Internet service providers offer tools that filter or block communications from specific individuals.
* As soon as individuals suspect they are victims of online harassment or cyberstalking, they should start collecting all evidence and document all contact made by the stalker. Save all e-mail, postings, or other communications in both electronic and hard-copy form. If possible, save all of the header information from e-mails and newsgroup postings. Record the dates and times of any contact with the stalker.
* Victims may also want to start a log of each communication explaining the situation in more detail. Victims may want to document how the harassment is affecting their lives and what steps they have taken to stop the harassment.
* Victims may want to file a report with local law enforcement or contact their local prosecutor's office to see what charges, if any, can be pursued. Victims should save copies of police reports and record all contact with law enforcement officials and the prosecutor's office.
* Victims who are being continually harassed may want to consider changing their e-mail address, Internet service provider, a home phone number, and should examine the possibility of using encryption software or privacy protection programs. Any local computer store can offer a variety of protective software, options and suggestions. * Victims may also want to learn how to use the filtering capabilities of email programs to block e-mails from certain addresses.
* Furthermore, victims should contact online directory listings such as www.four11.com, www.switchboard.com, and www.whowhere.com to request removal from their directory.
* Finally, under no circumstances should victims agree to meet with the perpetrator face to face to "work it out," or "talk." No contact should ever be made with the stalker. Meeting a stalker in person can be very dangerous.
Q: What’s the law in Louisiana about this crime?
A: Here are Louisiana’s laws about cyberstalking: