July editorial series: stalking awareness and education

Tuesday, July 1 marks the one-year anniversary of House Bill 4156, or the Modernization of Oregon’s Anti-Stalking Law, going into effect. The original law was drafted in 1995 and made no allowance for use of electronics, internet harassment and cyberstalking, doxxing, nor expansion of the law to include proxy stalking or engaging a second person (or more) to participate in stalking, harassment, or surveillance activities.

A survey by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 13 million people are stalked on a yearly basis in the United States with averages of one in three women and one in six men being stalked in their lifetime. Most common perpetrators are current or former intimate partners, family members, or acquaintances and neighbors for both female and male victims.

Stalking and harassment in rural areas brings additional challenges. In July, we’ll be exploring this crucial social and civil rights issue by taking a look at various types of stalking, such as individual versus proxy stalking versus group or community harassment, also known as gangstalking; victim impacts on physical, mental, emotional, and financial health; legal consequences; review of HB 4156, the changes to the law, and what it means for victims; law enforcement response and education; collecting and presenting evidence and how and where to get help. The series will run from July 3 through July 31 with a new topic every Thursday.