WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applauded the unanimous Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution designating January as National Stalking Awareness Month.
“Far too many Americans have suffered physical and psychological trauma as a result of stalking. Often, these individuals are forced to significantly alter their daily lives to preserve their own safety,” Grassley said. “January was a dedicated month to reflect on the pervasiveness of stalking and the serious hardships and dangers faced by victims. The work of advocates raising awareness, of law enforcement and courts taking preventive and punitive action and of service workers in providing help to victims are all worthy of our thanks.”
“As a former prosecutor, I have seen firsthand the serious emotional and physical toll stalking can take on victims,” Klobuchar said. “This resolution will raise awareness about the dangers of stalking, underscore the need to protect victims, and highlight the resources available to help survivors get their lives back on track.”
Stalking is an overlooked and underreported crime. Approximately one in three women and one in six men in the U.S. have experienced stalking at some point in their lives. Eighty percent of stalking victims report being stalked through technology, though it can occur online or in person. Stalking is most often committed by someone the victim knows, making stalking by an intimate partner the most common and dangerous form.
Iowans who suspect they may be victims of stalking should contact the Crime Victims Assistance Division of the Office of the Iowa Attorney General for resources and further assistance.
Grassley and Klobuchar were joined by Sens. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho.).
Full text of the resolution is available HERE.