Chicago Stalker Defense Attorney - Article

Stalkers

Stalking has been defined as the obsessive following, observing, or contacting of another person; or the obsessive attempt to engage in any of these activities. Stalking includes such behaviors as following a person to see where they live or what they do on a daily basis. It also includes seeking and obtaining the person’s personal information in an effort to initiate contact with that person. It can also include looking up details on computers, electoral rolls, personal files, and other material containing the person’s private information without his or her consent.

Types of Stalkers

When people think of stalkers, they typically think of male stalkers. This is because the majority of stalkers are male. However, the demographic and psychiatric characteristics of male and female stalkers do not differ as much as many people think. One difference is that male stalkers are more likely to have a record of criminal offenses and substance abuse.

Another difference between male and female stalkers is who they target. Women typically target someone they have known and rarely target strangers. Women frequently target other women, while men will usually only stalk women.

There have been five types of stalkers identified:

• Rejected

Rejected stalkers pursue their victims in order to correct, avenge, or reverse a rejection. The rejection can be due to divorce, separation, a break-up, or job termination.


• Resentful

Resentful stalkers pursue a vendetta because they have a sense of grievance against the victim. They are typically motivated by a desire to frighten and to distress the victim.


• Intimacy Seekers

Seekers want to establish an intimate, loving relationship with their victim. The victim is a long-sought soul mate and they were “meant” to be together.


• Incompetent Suitors

Incompetent Suitors have poor social and courting skills but do have a fixation, or a sense of entitlement to an intimate relationship with those who have caught their interest. Victims are most frequently already in a dating relationship with someone else.


• Predatory Stalkers

Predatory stalkers spy on their victims in order to prepare and to plan an attack. The attack is typically sexual.

If you have been the victim of stalking and/or sexual assault, you may be entitled to compensation from your attacker. Contact the Chicago stalker defense lawyers of Friedman & Bonebrake at 312-466-8200 to discuss your situation and to determine your legal options.