Description
Stalking is a crime that warrants special attention by courts because victims report experiencing stalking at much higher rates than the justice system identifies it, including cases involving immigrant survivors. Stalking can appear in any type of case and so judicial officers should consider stalking in all types of legal proceedings; it is particularly important to look for indicators when the parties know one another and/or there is evidence of ongoing harmful contact. Whichever type of case stalking occurs in, judicial officers are encouraged to make specific findings of fact regarding stalking, sign U and T visa certifications, and issue detailed orders designed to stop stalking behaviors, hold offenders accountable, and prevent dangerous consequences. This webinar will assist judicial officers in identifying stalking behaviors and effectively responding to stalking as a standalone issue and as it intersects with domestic violence, human trafficking, and in many family and civil court cases.
Faculty
- Judge Lora Livingston (Ret.), Senior Judge of the 261st Civil District Court, Travis County, Texas
- Leslye E. Orloff, Adjunct Professor, American University Washington College of Law and Director, National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project (NIWAP)
- Jennifer Landhuis, Director, Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC)
Please note that this page contains information about the webinar hosted on March 7, 2023, as well as links to bench cards, resources, webinars, and a state by state collection of stalking laws that will be useful for judges who encounter stalking victims in criminal, family and civil court cases. These materials are also helpful to immigration judges and adjudicators to help identify stalking behaviors in the VAWA, T and U visa or SIJS immigration cases they adjudicate.
NIWAP and SPARC Resources:
- Judicial Officer Bench Card: Stalking (12610)
- Judicial Officer Checklist for Common Behaviors Associated with Stalking (March 2, 2023)
- Judicial Officer Guide Responding to Stalking (12609)
- Understanding Stalking Brochure (English)
- Understanding Stalking Brochure (Spanish)
- Stalking Literature
- SPARC, Resources on Stalking for Judicial Officers (12716)
- SPARC, U.S. Stalking Laws and Statutes
Webinars on Stalking:
Additional Useful Information and A Full List of Recorded Webinars on Stalking
- SPARC offers more useful information on stalking on their Resources Page
- SPARC Webinar Archive