Victims of stalking: A study of service needs as perceived by victim services practitioners

In the past decade, there has been a growing effort across numerous disciplines to begin to document, explain, and address the problem of stalking. Because community services for stalking victims have scarcely been addressed in the literature, this study sought to explore the provision of services to stalking victims in the context of crime-victim service delivery networks. A 40-item questionnaire was mailed to all victim services programs listed in Florida and California. Victim services practitioners (VSPs) were asked to describe and evaluate the needs of stalking victims and their communities ' responses to this population. The study found that: (a) VSPs'perceptions and provision of services varied significantly across employment settings (criminal justice vs. private/nonprofit or university-based programs), (b) victims of nondomestic stalking (perpetrated primarily by acquaintances and strangers) appear to be underserved, and (c) VSPs suggest community and service-provider education and training would help improve communities ' responses to stalking victims.