We See You: Supervising Stalking Offenders

March 15, 20171-2:30pm Central Time

James Henderson, Technical Assistance Provider, Probation Project, Battered Women’s Justice Project

This project was supported by Grant No. 2016-TA-AX-K056 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this (document/program/exhibit) are those of

the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.and

This project was supported by Grant No. 2015-TA-AX-K027 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this (document/program/exhibit) are those of

the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

Thank you for joining us today!

We See You: Supervising Stalking Offenders

March 15,2017, 1-2:30pm Central Time

The materials are available on our website: http://www.bwjp.org/training/webinar-we-see-you-supervising-stalking-offenders.html

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Presented byJames E. Henderson Jr MSW, CAC‐RTechnical Assistance ProviderBattered Women's Justice ProjectWebinar: March 15, 2017

This project was supported by Grant No. 2016‐TA‐AX‐K056 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

Hand Raise if you are:

Advocate Probation or Parole Officer Law Enforcement Prosecutor Other? Please chat in!

Discuss the challenges and opportunities related to the community supervision of stalking offenders/cases.

Describe the critical role that community corrections professionals can play in holding stalking offenders accountable for their crimes and promote the safety of victims.

Identify resources available to assist community corrections in supervising stalking cases.

Stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that 

would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. 

(Stalking Resource Center, 2009)

Stalking may include such behaviors as:Making unwanted phone calls Sending unsolicited letters/emails Following or spying on the victim Showing up at places without a legitimate reason

Waiting at places for the victim Leaving unwanted items, presents or flowers Posting info or spreading rumors about the victim on the internet, in public places or by word of mouth.

(Baum et al., 2009)

The following are based on the 2011 NISVS data – released by CDC in Sept 2014

7.5 million stalked in 1 year in U.S. By gender

4% of women

2% of men

Lifetime

More than 1 in 7 women

1 in 18 men

‐The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2011

‐The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2011

‐The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2011

“[Intimate stalkers compared to non‐intimate stalkers] are by far the most malignant…They frequently approach their targets and escalate in frequency and intensity of pursuit.  They insult, interfere, threaten and are violent. Over one‐half of these subjects will physically assault their object of pursuit…Virtually all of them reoffend, and they do so more quickly than the other two groups.  Almost one out of three will threaten with or use a weapon.”

(Logan, 2010)

More than 75% of intimate partner femicidevictims and 85% victims of attempted femicide were stalked by their partner.

Two‐thirds of femicide victims and 71% of attempted femicide victims were also physically abused.

Former intimate partners were more likely than current partners to stalk victims of completed and attempted femicide.

You supervise stalkers on your caseload.

The stalkers on your caseload were convicted under stalking charges.

What are the non‐stalking criminal convictions of stalking offenders on your caseload?

You supervise domestic violence offenders on your caseload.

You suspect that domestic violence offenders on your caseload are engaging in stalking behaviors with their victim.

What are some of the general sources of your suspicions? (i.e., victim information, supervision‐related surveillance, etc.)

Chronic group of offenders with high rates of recidivism

Stalking often not the crime of conviction for offenders under supervision

Dangerous to victims, but may appear to be low risk to the community using traditional risk measures

Effective supervision requires involvement with the victim

Shift in Focus…

Put the Victim FIRST!

Screening Offenders

Contact with Victims

Supervision Strategies

Collaboration

Stalkers often convicted on non‐stalking criminal charges, such as: vandalism assault battery burglary domestic violence sexual assault violation of a protection order

Seek evidence of stalking behavior

Determine the nature of the victim/offender  relationship

Document the history of protection orders, if applicable

Review police reports and other documents for patterns of abuse

Indicators of Dangerousness in Stalking

Threats to harm victim, family, friends, petsUse or presence of weaponsSeparation or end of relationshipPrior physical abuse in relationshipPrior violations of protective order(s)Stalking after the issuance of protective orderEscalation of stalking behavior and/or abuse

You regularly have contact with the stalking  and/or domestic violence victims of offenders on your caseloads.

46% afraid of not knowing what would happen next

29% feared behavior would never stop 30% feared physical harm 1 in 8 employed victims lost time from work; more than half lost 5 days or more.

(Baum, 2009)

• First contact– as early as possible• Ongoing contact– rights, information and notification changes to the case increase in risk to the victim

Follow her lead! Options for phone, in‐person and written contact

Domestic Violence Victim Contact Checklist Prior to Meeting Safety Offender Accountability Assistance

Community corrections professionals can engage victims by providing:1. Information about the community corrections process

2. Support through non‐judgmental listening3. Referrals to available programs, shelters, other services

“It serves no purpose for a victim to relocate or seek temporary refuge with friends or family members if the legal system is going to make her whereabouts known.” 

Model Domestic Violence Policy for Counties, State of New York

Inform victim of policies regarding confidentiality of information

Explain mandatory reporting requirements Interview victims separately from their offenders

Keep victim information in separate, secured files

Use alternative means to verify victim reports of offender’s violations of supervision

“Supervising stalkers requires a different mind set.  You have to be willing to evaluate seemingly benign or even legal behavior to determine whether it is part of a pattern of stalking.  This takes incredible patience, persistence and attention to detail.  It also requires a commanding court presence, the ability to interpret and contextualize seemingly minor behaviors as a pattern of stalking, and to reach the legal threshold for revocation of probation or parole.  All of it is labor intensive and often frustrating, but necessary for victim safety.”

Nancy Halverson Corrections Unit SupervisorHennepin County, MN

Recommended Strategies: Frequent field contacts with offender and collateral 

contacts Frequent, random checks for alcohol/drug use Regular, unannounced searches Consider electronic monitoring devices as a tool Regular checks for new protective orders and criminal 

conduct Monitor restitution payment, if applicable Coordinate with law enforcement Assign the offender to a specialized caseload, if available Check for new partners

Possible Special Conditions No contact with victim, victim’s family Submit to unannounced home visits Submit to warrantless searches Provide aliases, screen names, internet service provider account info, etc.

Abstain from use of alcohol or drugs Undergo mental health assessment Abide by Restriction Zone Prohibitions

Do not use or possess firearms or other deadly weapons

Sign release of information Notify officer of all police contacts Pay fines, fees, and restitution Comply with curfews Disclose new intimate/dating partners to officer and disclose reason for supervision to new partners

Batter Intervention

Any participant recommendations for supervision strategies 

or conditions?

Let’s hear them!!

Develop active partnerships with advocates and other justice system and community organizations. Early identification of stalking crimes Early intervention Shared responsibility for data collectionCollaborative problem solvingCoordination of law enforcement and victim    services

Strengthening of community trust

Your community has a coordinated community response to domestic violence that includes criminal justice agencies and community service providers.

Your coordinated community response system INCLUDES community corrections (probation, parole, pretrial services) agencies?

Professionalism & Ethical Practice Case Investigation Community Supervision & Enforcement Victim Safety & Autonomy Batterer Intervention Programs http://www.appa‐net.org/dv/index.htm

http://www.appa‐net.org/dv/index.htm

Battered Women’s Justice Project (800) 903 0111  www.bwjp.org

http://www.bwjp.org/our‐work/projects/probation‐project.html

Praxis International  www.praxisinternational.org

Stalking Resource Centerhttp://www.victimsofcrime.org/our‐programs/stalking‐resource‐center

Center For Court Innovation www.courtinnovation.org

Domestic Abuse Intervention Projectwww.theduluthmodel.org

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judgeswww.ncjfcj.org

American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) www.appa‐net.org

Office on Violence Against Womenwww.usdoj.gov/ovw

James E. Henderson Jr. MSW, CAC‐R

Battered Women's Justice Project1801 Nicollet Ave South, Suite 102Minneapolis, MN 55403

p 800‐903‐0111, ext. 1technicalassistance@bwjp.orgJames_henderson@yahoo.com(517) 414‐7302  Fax (517) 522‐8521