If you are in immediate danger, call 911
While those who are being stalked can make safety plans on their own, it is often helpful to obtain assistance from trained individuals. At CSUCI, the Campus Advocate can help a person who reports to be a victim of stalking determine which options will best enhance their safety and will work to devise a safety plan to address each unique situation and circumstance. If needed, the Advocate can also assist you in exploring your options for on-campus needs. Remember that you can receive confidential support for this matter.
Create a Stalking Safety Plan
A safety plan is a combination of suggestions, plans, and responses created to help reduce the risk of harm. It is a tool designed in response to the specific situation that evaluates what the individual experiencing reported stalking is currently experiencing, incorporates the pattern of previous behavior, and examines options that will positively impact their safety.
The National Stalking Resource Center provides the following steps:
- If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
- Trust your instincts. Don't downplay the danger. If you feel you are unsafe, you probably are.
- Take threats seriously.
- Contact a crisis hotline, victim services agency, a domestic violence or rape crisis center. They can help you devise a safety plan, give you information about local laws, weigh options such as seeking a protection order and refer you to other services.
- Don't communicate or respond to attempts to contact you.
- Keep evidence of the stalking and write down the time, date, and place. Keep emails, text messages, phone messages or letters. Photograph anything of yours that is damaged and any injuries connected with the reported stalking. Ask witnesses to write down what they saw.
- Contact the police. Every state has stalking laws.
- Consider getting a court order that tells the other individual to stay away from you.
- Tell family, friends, roommates, and co-workers about the stalking and seek their support.
- Tell campus police or the security staff at your job. Ask them to help watch out for your safety.