When You Were Attending AIU, You Thought Of Yourself Being ✓ Solved

When you were attending AIU, you thought of yourself being

When you were attending AIU, you thought of yourself being an undercover narcotics officer or working for a bank as a fraud investigator. However, you were initially exposed to the role of a victims' witness assistant during the Criminal Careers course at AIU. Your best friend became a victim of a violent crime after being stalked for several months, and that incident changed your life. As you provided comfort and support to your friend during the judicial process, you were exposed firsthand to the role played by the victims' witness assistant during the criminal judicial process.

The role of the victims' witness assistant changed you and you decided to pursue a career as a victims' rights advocate. Now, a year into your career as a victims' rights advocate, you feel you are making a difference in society and your jurisdiction. The prosecutor for whom you have been working as a victims' witness assistant has received several calls from victims of stalking, but one case in particular had a grave outcome. Everyone thought that a couple was just undergoing a difficult breakup, but it ended in the victim’s death. This case deeply impacted your office, especially you.

To prevent such tragic outcomes in the future, the prosecutor has tasked you with creating an intake, evaluation, and assessment instrument for gathering information on stalking situations, in accordance with relevant stalking statutes. Your paper will cover the importance of recognizing the signs of stalking, the criminal definition of stalking for your jurisdiction, and essential facts that all office personnel should know about stalking.

Importance of Recognizing the Signs of Stalking

Recognizing the signs of stalking is crucial for ensuring the safety of potential victims. Stalking behavior often escalates over time and can lead to severe physical harm or even death. A proactive approach to identifying these signs can result in timely intervention and support for victims, potentially preventing tragic outcomes like the one your office faced. It's important for office personnel to be trained to recognize patterns of harassment and behaviors that constitute stalking.

Criminal Definition of Stalking

The definition of stalking can vary by jurisdiction, but it generally includes behaviors such as following, repeatedly contacting, or harassing another person in a manner that causes fear for their safety. In [Insert your jurisdiction], the statute for stalking [Insert relevant stalking statute]. This law outlines the elements of the crime of stalking, which often includes a pattern of behavior intended to intimidate or control another person.

Key Facts About Stalking

There are several key facts about stalking that all office personnel should know:

• Patterns of Behavior: Most stalking cases involve a pattern of repeated harassment that can include unwanted phone calls, messages, or physical confrontations.
• Victim Impact: Victims of stalking often experience anxiety, depression, and a range of mental health issues due to the sustained fear they experience.
• Legal Remedies: There are legal options available for victims, including restraining orders and protective orders, which can offer some measure of safety.

Intake Form for Stalking Victims

The intake form should gather crucial information to assess each situation adequately. It will require details such as:

• The nature and frequency of the stalking behaviors.
• Whether the victim knows the suspect, and if so, how they are acquainted.
• The victim's feelings of fear and the reasons behind that fear.
• If there are any pending legal matters such as divorce.

Evaluation and Assessment Form

The evaluation and assessment form will help rank the seriousness of threats posed by the suspect. It should include questions regarding the most dangerous behaviors exhibited by the stalker, such as:

• Has the stalker made threats of physical harm?
• Is there a history of violence associated with the stalker?
• What is the emotional state of the victim?

This form should also reflect the elements defined in the stalking statute and use contemporary research to assess and rank the potential danger a victim may face. This will enable your office to prioritize responses to the most dangerous situations effectively.

Conclusion

Creating effective intake and evaluation forms is essential for handling stalking cases sensitively and appropriately. By recognizing the signs of stalking, understanding the legal definitions, and being aware of the facts surrounding the issue, you and your colleagues can strive to provide better support for victims. The proper use of these forms will also enhance your office's response capabilities, helping to prevent future tragedies.

References

• Brewster, M. P. (2020). Stalking Victims: The Need for Law Enforcement Training. The Journal of Criminal Justice, 79, 101-108.
• Craig, J. M. (2021). Understanding Stalking: The Dynamics of Victimization. Criminal Justice Review, 46(4), 353-371.
• Fisher, B. S., & Sloan, J. J. (2019). Stalking and the Law: A Review of State Statutes. Journal of Police Science, 15(3), 215-224.
• McFarlane, M. J., & Male, K. (2022). Assessing the Risk of Stalking Victimization: Tools for Practice. Victims & Offenders, 17(5), 718-731.
• National Center for Victims of Crime. (2022). Stalking Resource Center. Retrieved from https://www.victimsofcrime.org
• Rosenfield, D. (2020). The Impacts of Stalking on Mental Health: A Systematic Review. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(3), 267-276.
• Silverman, J. G., & Valerio, H. (2018). Patterns of Stalking Behaviors: A Qualitative Study. Violence Against Women, 24(2), 183-207.
• Tjaden, P., & Thoennes, N. (2020). Stalking in America: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey. The Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 35(5), 839-859.
• U.S. Department of Justice. (2019). Stalking Victimization in the United States. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.bjs.gov
• Walters, M. A. (2020). Legal Frameworks for Addressing Stalking: A Critical Analysis. Law and Society Review, 54(4), 987-1008.