There were 55 stalking cases reported and investigated in Rapid City last year, according to Ruth Torala, a case manager for the Coordinated Action Response Enhancement and Enforcement Team (CARE) of Rapid City.

That number includes only cases of stalking, not other crimes that involved some manner of stalking.

Torala said she hopes to see enacted a resolution that was introduced in Congress in December to establish January as National Stalking Awareness Month.

"I think it's a great way to be able to promote stalking awareness and help educate our community about stalking in general," she said.

The resolution, House Resolution 852, was introduced by Ted Poe, R-Texas, and says the establishment of Stalking Awareness Month would provide an opportunity to educate citizens, policy makers, criminal justice officials, victim service and human service agencies and nonprofit organizations about stalking.

The resolution has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D. has asked to be added as a co-sponsor to the resolution, said Betsy Hart, Herseth Sandlin's press secretary.

The resolution said more than 1 million women and 371,000 men are stalked annually in the United States. In most cases, it is not a stranger who does the stalking.

Torala said one in 12 women and one in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime. Seventy-seven percent of female victims and 64 percent of male victims know their stalker. CARE, which aims to assist victims, is a collaboration of the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, Rapid City Police Department and Working Against Violence, Inc. (WAVI).

Document behavior

Torala said there are several things people can do if they are being stalked.

She said one of the most important is to write down any contact by the stalker.

"Document, document, document," she said.

Keep all letters, cards and other written correspondence. Keep a log of all phone calls, text messages, e-mails and run-ins with the individual.

Another safety measure Torala recommends is keeping a charged cell phone on hand. For those who cannot afford a cell phone,

WAVI in Rapid City has cell phones programmed only to dial 911 available for free.

Sandy Bromley, senior attorney for the Stalking Resource Center of the National Center for Victims of Crime, based in Washington, D.C., said her organization usually advises people being stalked to not speak to the stalker, but to "disengage completely."

She said talking to the stalker may escalate the situation or lead the stalker to believe further communication is wanted by the person he or she is stalking.

Bromley said there is no set guideline for when a victim of stalking should contact law enforcement.

"It's up to the individual," she said. "At any point they feel unsafe and, when their safety is in jeopardy, it's important to reach out to law enforcement."

Be careful online

Bromley said the Internet and social networking Web sites such as MySpace and Facebook make finding personal information about individuals extremely easy for people stalking them.

"Think before you post," Bromley said.

Information as seemingly harmless as a class schedule or plans for the evening can be useful to a stalker if posted online.

Bromley said most social networking Web sites have features for reporting stalking behavior directly on the site.

Protection orders

Torala said filing a stalking protection order is also an option for victims.

Stalking protection order forms should be obtained from the clerk of court in the county of which the victim is a resident.

For a judge to approve an order, the person filing must prove that the accused stalker has followed or harassed the person filing in a willful and malicious manner and has done so more than once, made believable threats against the person filing with the intent to make that person fearful of great bodily injury or harassed the person by means of verbal electronic, digital media, mechanical, telegraphic or written communication more than once.

Torala said those requirements are why it is so important that people keep logs of any stalking behavior.

Torala said, as soon as the paperwork is filed, a judge will review it and, if the requirement is meant, will issue a 30-day order that bans all contact between the stalker and person filing the order.

During those 30 days, a court hearing will be held to determine whether the stalking order will be made permanent.

An order can be made to last as long as five years.

Torala said the person filing the stalking order must be present, or it is thrown out.

The person accused of stalking need not be present but can attend and contest the order if he or she wishes.

Tell others

Bromley said reaching out to resources in the community and letting co-workers, friends and family members know the stalking is taking place are two more ways to stay safe.

"A lot of times, stalking victims tend to isolate themselves, because they're embarrassed by what's going on," Bromley said.

"They should do the opposite. Those people can help keep you safe."

Stalking is illegal in all 50 states. In South Dakota, first-offense stalking is a class 1 misdemeanor, carrying up to one year in jail.

Second-offense stalking in a 10-year period is a felony carrying up to two years in prison.

A second-offense in 10 years involving the same victim and an act or credible threat of violence is a felony carrying up to five years in prison.

But the effect on the victim can last even longer than those prison sentences.

"It can be very traumatic," Torala said. "Your world is turned upside down and inside out."

She said victims of stalking often suffer from anxiety and depression, lose sleep, miss work and do not feel safe doing everyday activities such as running errands.

"They may end up feeling like they need to move away just to feel safe again," Torala said.

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com