STALKING & INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE:

FACT SHEET
There is a real and frighteningly significant connection between stalking and intimate
partner violence. Stalking often co-occurs with intimate partner violence and can be an
! indicator of other forms of violence. Stalking can be a way to exert power and control
during and/or after an abusive relationship.

DID YOU KNOW? INTIMATE PARTNER STALKING OFFENDERS

• 40% of stalking victims are stalked by current or • Abusive partners who stalk are more likely (than
former intimate partners. A abusive partners who do not stalk) to verbally degrade,
• 57% of intimate partner stalking victims are stalked threaten, use a weapon to attack, sexually assault,
during the relationship. B and/or physically injure their victims. K
• 74% of those stalked by a former intimate partner • Intimate partner stalkers are more likely (than stalkers
report violence and/or coercive control during the who are not intimate partners) to:
relationship. C o Use the widest range of stalking tactics. L
• 81% of women stalked by a current or former o Contact and approach victims more frequently. M
husband or cohabitating partner were also physically o Assault their victims. N
assaulted by that partner. D o Be insulting and interfere in the victim’s life. O
• 31% of women stalked by an intimate partner were o Escalate the frequency and intensity of pursuit
also sexually assaulted. E more often. P
• 41% of victims stalked by a current intimate partner o Threaten victims with weapons or actually use
and 35% stalked by a former intimate partner weapons on their victims. Q
experience threats of harm, compared to 24% o Be threatening to their victims and reoffend. R
stalked by a non-intimate partner. F o Follow through on threats of violence. S One study
• The average length of partner stalking is 2.2 years found that among stalking victims threatened, 71%
(longer than the average of just over 1 year for non- of intimate partner victims were actually assaulted
intimate partner cases). G compared to 33% of non-intimate partner victims. T
o Assault third parties. U
STALKING & PARTNER HOMICIDE o Reoffend after a court intervention and reoffend
• Stalking increases the risk of intimate partner
more quickly. V
homicide by three times. H
• The risk of physical violence is heightened when the
• The most common use of the criminal justice system
intimate partner stalker: W
prior to attempted or completed intimate partner
o Issues direct threats of violence;
homicide was reporting intimate partner stalking. I
o Expresses jealousy of the victim’s relationships with
• Among female victims of attempted and completed
others during the relationship; and
intimate partner homicide by male partners, in the 12
o Uses illegal drugs.
months prior to the attack: J
o 85% of attempted and 76% of completed homicide STALKING & SEPARATION
victims were stalked. • Victims stalked by violent partners report more
o 91% of attempted and 89% of completed homicide separation attempts than partner violence victims who
victims who had been physically abused during the were not stalked. X
relationship had also been stalked. • Intimate partner stalking made victims more likely to
o 46% of attempted and 54% of completed want to leave the relationship than other factors,
homicide victims reported stalking before the including psychological aggression and injury. Y
attack, most commonly to police. • Stalking after a separation may increase the risk of
violence. ZAABB
This project was supported by Grant No. 2017-TA-AX-K074 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The
opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
 STALKING & INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE:
FACT SHEET
SOURCES
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C Brewster, M. (2003). Power and control dynamics in pre-stalking and stalking situations. Journal of Family Violence, 18(4), 207-217.
D Tjaden, P. & Thoennes, N. (1998). Stalking in America: Findings from the national violence against women survey (NCJ# 169592).
Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
E Ibid.
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G Brewster, M. (2003). Power and control dynamics in pre-stalking and stalking situations. Journal of Family Violence, 18(4), 207-217.
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P Ibid.
Q Ibid.
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S Ibid.
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Psychiatry, 42, 800-806.
U Sheridan, L. & Davies, G. (2001). Violence and the prior victim-stalker relationship. Criminal Behavior and Mental Health, 11, 102-116.
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683.
Y Matlow, R.B. & DePrince, A.P. (2015). The Impact of Appraisals and Context on Readiness to Leave a Relationship Following Intimate Partner
Abuse. Violence Against Women, 21(9): 1043-1064.
Z Logan, TK, Walker, R., Jordan, C., & Campbell, J. (2004). An integrative review of separation and victimization among women: Consequences
& Implications. Violence, Trauma, & Abuse, 5(2), 143-193.
AA Logan, TK, Walker, R., Shannon, L., & Cole, J. (2008). Factors associated with separation and ongoing violence among women with civil
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BB Mechanic, M., Uhlmansiek, M., Weaver, T. & Resick, P. (2000). The impact of severe stalking experienced by acutely battered women: An
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