Carleen Marie Thompson

Defining Relational Stalking in Research: Understanding Sample Composition in Relation to Repetition and Duration of Harassment

Due to ambiguities in stalking laws and the concept of stalking more generally, it is difficult for researchers to operationalize stalking for the purpose of selecting samples of perpetrators or victims. In an attempt to develop an empirical basis for operationalizing relational stalking, this study examined unwanted intrusions in a community and student sample. Participants (N = 1738) completed a questionnaire assessing the repetition and duration of their unwanted intrusive behaviour following the termination of a relationship or pursuit of a romantic relationship. The consequences of applying different cut-offs of repetition and duration of harassment were examined in relation to the proportion of participants who self-reported intent to frighten, intimidate or harm the target, perceived target fear or harm and the use of violence and/or threats. Engaging in some form of unwanted pursuit was almost normative (75% of the sample). When higher levels of repetition were used to define stalking, the sample comprised participants who reported engaging in more serious forms of intrusive behaviour. Applying different cut-offs of duration appeared to have less of an effect on sample composition than did repetition. Criteria that may help to capture more serious forms of stalking behaviour, as opposed to normative behaviour, are discussed.

The monetary cost of offender trajectories: Findings from Queensland (Australia)

This study assessed the longitudinal costs of offender trajectories in Queensland (Australia) to provide policymakers with evidence that could be used to promote the use of crime prevention programs. Few studies have assessed these costs and minimal research has been conducted outside the United States. The study addressed three research questions: (1) What are the monetary costs of crime? (2) What is the optimal number of offender trajectories in an Australian offender cohort? and (3) What are the monetary costs of officially recorded offending for individuals on different offender trajectories? The Semi-Parametric Group-based Method (SPGM) was used to determine the number of offender trajectories in the Queensland Longitudinal Database. This database included 41,377 individuals who were born in 1983 and 1984 and guilty of offences in Queensland that were committed when aged 10–25 years old. The costs of crime were assessed using two approaches. First, criminal justice system costs were estimated based on the number and type of contacts that individuals had with the criminal justice system as well as the length of any supervision served. Second, wider social and economic costs were assessed based on offence type. Results indicated that there were five offender trajectories, including two chronic, one moderate and two low trajectories. When costs were applied to the offender trajectories, offenders in the two chronic groups were 4.8% of the cohort but accounted for 41.1% of the total costs. On average, each chronic offender cost between

Intimate partner violence: the effect of gender and contextual factors on community perceptions of harm, and suggested victim and criminal justice responses

186,366 and

Administrative data linkage as a tool for developmental and life-course criminology: the Queensland Linkage Project

262,799 by the time they turned 26 years old, with 60% of the costs accounted for by the criminal justice system. On average, each chronic offender cost over 20 times more than offenders in the two low offending groups. These findings provide further evidence for the potential benefits of implementing interventions that target chronic offenders.

Are different Risk Factors Associated with Moderate and Severe Stalking Violence? Examining Factors From the Integrated Theoretical Model of Stalking Violence

Using a vignette to depict physical violence by an intimate partner, a 2 (perpetrator gender) × 2 (participant gender) × 2 (frequency) × 2 (intent to cause harm) between subjects factorial design was used to examine under what circumstances individuals perceive: an incident should be illegal, the extent of harm, and appropriate victim and criminal justice responses. There were 868 participants from the Brisbane (Australia) community (48.5% males). The actions of male perpetrators were viewed more seriously and the victims were recommended to seek more forms of assistance when the perpetrator was male. There were few differences in perceptions of violence according to participant gender. The frequency of the violence affected the participant’s responses but the intentions of the perpetrator did not. Results are discussed in terms of stereotypes of intimate partner violence (IPV) and the implications for help-seeking behavior by victims.

Factors associated with stalking persistence

A fundamental challenge to developmental and life-course (DLC) criminology research is access to appropriate longitudinal data to examine hypotheses concerning causal risk factors for offending and within-individual change over time, and to empirically test DLC theories. In this paper we present a powerful method for collecting appropriate data – linked administrative data. The Queensland Linkage Project includes three population-based longitudinal linked administrative databases – the Queensland Longitudinal Data (QLD) – QLD 83, QLD 84 and QLD 90. We describe the methodology of linking administrative data, the establishment of the QLD datasets and a selection of the work facilitated by these data. This work addresses issues raised by the editors including the effects of life events and the timing of risk factors (child maltreatment) on further offending, the monetary costs of offending across the life-course and the development of adult-onset offending. We finish by describing current work on the Queensland Linkage Project where mental health system data are being integrated with justice system data.

Life Course Offending Pathways Across Gender and Race/Ethnicity

This study investigated risk factors from the integrated theoretical model of stalking violence (ITMSV) with 703 participants classified as relational stalkers from South-East Queensland (Australia). Participants completed a self-report perpetration questionnaire assessing (a) relational stalking, (b) stalking violence (no/moderate/severe), and (c) predisposing (sociocultural, psychological, historical) and contextual (intentions, triggering events, disinhibitors) risk factors. Findings supported key propositions from the ITMSV. Severely violent stalkers were characterized by a greater number, and more severe types, of predisposing factors than moderately violent or nonviolent stalkers. The importance of contextual factors was supported in relation to moderate and severe stalking violence. Combining predisposing and contextual factors resulted in strong predictions of moderate and severe stalking violence. These findings highlight the pertinence of differentiating moderate and severe stalking violence and combining predisposing and contextual factors in assessments of risk.

Are Female Stalkers More Violent Than Male Stalkers? Understanding Gender Differences in Stalking Violence Using Contemporary Sociocultural Beliefs

ABSTRACT The longer stalking persists, the more damaging its effects. Despite this, little research has explored factors associated with stalking persistence, making it difficult to drive strategies that encourage desistance. This study examined risk factors associated with persistence in a sample of 637 participants from Brisbane (Australia) classified as ex-intimate stalkers. A self-report perpetration questionnaire was used to measure stalking duration (low/moderate/high) and risk factors for persistence. Findings identified marked differences in the nature of risk factors for moderate (1–12 months) as opposed to high persistence (>1 year). Ex-intimate stalkers were more likely to be moderately persistent (versus low and high persistence) if they had higher attachment anxiety, amorous motives, constantly ruminated about the victim and were feeling hurt. Ex-intimate stalkers were more likely to be highly persistent (versus low and moderate persistence) if they were aged over 30, had some tertiary education, had higher attachment avoidance, did not have amorous motives, wanted to frighten/hurt the victim and felt angry. Feeling suicidal and/or unable to cope was associated with both moderate and high persistence. Findings suggest it is crucial to differentiate risk factors for moderate and high persistence. Furthermore, ex-intimate stalking that persists the longest may be the most malicious.