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Stalker profiles with and without protective orders: reoffending or criminal justice processing?
T K Logan1, Amy Nigoff, Robert Walker
1Department of Behavioral Science, Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40504-2645, USA. tklogan@uky.edu
Violence and Victims
|December 13, 2002
Summary
Stalking is often linked to intimate partner violence. Males with multiple prior protective orders showed higher rates of subsequent felony charges, indicating persistent reoffending patterns.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Forensic Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Stalking is frequently an escalation of intimate partner violence.
- Understanding stalker behavior is crucial for effective intervention and legal processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between protective order history and court processing of stalking cases.
- To analyze reoffending patterns among individuals charged with stalking.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 346 males charged with stalking in 1999.
- Categorization into groups based on protective order history (none, one, two or more).
- Examination of criminal justice involvement and charge amendments.
Main Results:
- Nearly two-thirds of stalkers had a prior protective order.
- A linear trend was observed between protective order history and criminal justice involvement.
- Individuals with two or more protective orders were more likely to face subsequent felony charges.
Conclusions:
- Protective order history is a significant indicator of stalking behavior and intimate partner violence.
- Stalkers with extensive protective order histories demonstrate higher rates of reoffending and subsequent legal challenges.
- Findings underscore the need for robust legal and psychological interventions for repeat offenders.