Stalking Recidivism: Estimates from a Large Correctional Sample

• In Event: Family and Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Stalking is a poorly understood phenomenon in criminology. Available empirical estimates of prevalence are largely victimization focused and do not address offender recidivism. The peer-reviewed work concerning stalking recidivism to date concentrates on offender typologies and involves small clinical/forensic samples, limiting overall generalizability. This dearth of knowledge has implications for criminal justice policy and practice, particularly for correctional management of stalking perpetrators and protective services for stalking victims. Secondary data featuring a large cohort of offenders released from prison in Florida from 1996 to 2004 is utilized to examine offenders whose most serious offense was one of several stalking charge categories. Research questions for this study include exploratory identification of recidivism prevalence in a large correctional sample, quantification of modalities of recidivism (e.g., time between release and re-offense), and comparison/contrast to recidivists for similar crime types (e.g., domestic violence, sexual assault, harassment).

Author

• Matt R. Nobles, Sam Houston State University