Stalking Unit

Stalking Hotline 619-515-8900

Imagine being pursued - hunted by someone who knows your every move. No matter what you do, you can’t shake them. You look in the rearview mirror and there they are. Panic sets in. You have nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. Welcome to the life of a stalking victim.

Stalking is not a new phenomenon. But widespread recognition of stalking as a social and criminal justice concern is relatively recent. California enacted anti-stalking legislation in 1990, and in 1994 Congress passed the national Violence Against Women Act.

Nationwide, one in 12 women will be victims of stalking at some point in their lives. Men make up a smaller, but equally victimized group.

Stalking cases are unique because they can involve ongoing behavior that can last for years. Often, several police agencies are involved in coordinating the investigation. Victims are among the most emotionally traumatized because of the ongoing and threatening nature of the crime.

To combat the complex issues of stalking, workplace violence and domestic terrorism, the District Attorney established the Stalking Strike Force in 1994, the first of its kind in the nation. The DA recognized that law enforcement could better serve its citizens by focusing on the aggressive investigation and prosecution of stalkers before they harmed their victims. In addition to the D.A.'s Office, representatives of law enforcement agencies, probation and mental health professionals are represented on the Strike Force.

The Stalking Strike Force takes an innovative and entirely new approach to cases: monitoring, protecting and assisting victims even in situations where the evidence is insufficient to file criminal charges. This is not law enforcement as usual – it’s an entirely new approach designed to better serve victims and the citizens of the community.

The San Diego Stalking Strike force has become the model for similar units in the U.S. and throughout the world, from local police agencies to Scotland Yard. To promote professionalism and education about stalking and threat assessment issues among law enforcement and mental health professionals, the Strike Force and the San Diego DA’s Office have sponsored three seminars featuring international experts such as Gavin de Becker. Members of the task force have collaborated on a training manual and have set up an information line for victims.

If you are a stalking victim and want to report a crime, please call your local police agency first and file a report.

Security Tips for Victims
Information on Cyberstalking

For additional support and information, call the Stalking Strike Force Information line at 619-515-8900.

Profiles of Stalkers:

THE STALKERS:

9.5% Erotomania: Stalker falsely believes that the target, usually someone famous or rich, is in love with the stalker.
43% Love obsession: Stalker is a stranger to the target but is obsessed and mounts a campaign of harassment to make the target aware of the stalker's existence.
47% Simple obsession: Stalker usually male, knows target as an ex-spouse, ex-lover, or former boss, and begins a campaign of harassment.

THE VICTIMS:

38% Ordinary Citizens
32% Lesser known entertainment figures.
17% Highly recognizable celebrities.
13% Former employer; other professionals.

THREATS

Direct Threats-Straightforward and explicit statements of an intention to commit harm that do no state conditions that might avert harm.

Veiled Threats-Indirect, vague, or subtle statements suggesting potential harm that do not state conditions that might avert harm.

Conditional Threats-Statements portending harm and specifying either conditions to be met in order to avert the harm or conditions under which the threat will be carried out.

Other resources and valuable links about stalking: