| This year our nation experienced the first public | | | | Technology today allows for anyone including |
| health emergency being declared by a government | | | | domestic abusers to harass and intimidate with no |
| official regarding domestic violence. Massachusetts | | | | repercussions because their handiwork is nearly |
| Governor Deval Patrick declared a "state of | | | | untraceable. |
| emergency" stemming from the exponential rise in | | | | |
| the numbers of domestic violence related deaths in | | | | Privacy protection is important to everyone; |
| that state. Nationwide, law enforcement officials | | | | however, for victims of domestic violence privacy |
| indicate a dramatic increase in restraining orders as | | | | protection is far too often a matter of life or death. |
| well as stalking cases that involve the use of | | | | Domestic violence victims' who do the "right thing" |
| technology. This is not good news for our nation's | | | | and seek aid from government agencies and the |
| domestic violence and stalking victims. | | | | courts create technological trails of their private lives |
| | | | | in government records and on-line databases allowing |
| The Department of Justice statistical report of June | | | | for domestic abusers to become cyberstalkers with |
| 29, 2006 indicates on average, more than three | | | | ease. Phone records, social security numbers, |
| women are murdered by their husbands or | | | | employment information, property records, credit |
| boyfriends in this country every day. Approximately | | | | information, medical records and more is available |
| 1.3 million women are physically assaulted by an | | | | on-line today making a victims' path to freedom more |
| intimate partner annually in the United States every | | | | difficult than ever before. |
| year. Every 12 seconds a woman is beaten in this | | | | |
| country as the result of domestic violence. The FBI | | | | A cyberstalker relies upon their ability to harass, |
| reports that domestic violence is the leading cause of | | | | torture, manipulate, control and in some cases ruin a |
| injury to women between the ages of 15 to | | | | victim's life- anonymously avoiding detection and |
| 44-more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes | | | | prosecution. Unlike traditional stalkers who harass |
| combined. Victim resources continue to be | | | | their victims in person by perpetrating acts outside of |
| overwhelmed across the nation. | | | | their homes; cyberstalkers anonymously stalk their |
| | | | | prey while sitting comfortably behind computer |
| Domestic violence victims' greatest service needs are | | | | screens. With the "click of the mouse" cyberstalkers |
| for temporary and permanent safe housing, financial | | | | are baffling law enforcement and prosecutors while |
| assistance, and counseling. In addition, domestic | | | | making victims lives miserable. Within seconds vast |
| violence and stalking victims' also need access to | | | | amounts of consumer private records and |
| social service support and advocacy, legal | | | | information can be sent and received; far too often |
| representation, vocational training and childcare. | | | | this information ends up in the wrong hands of a |
| However, the victims needs don't stop there. The | | | | domestic abuser now a merciless cyberstalker. |
| World Wide Web has created a new criminal | | | | |
| epidemic known as cyberstalking. Cyberstalking | | | | However; not all technology is having a negative |
| impacts millions within the U.S. and a substantial | | | | impact on victims. There is new hope for many |
| number of cyberstalking victims are victims of | | | | victims with orders of protection that are often |
| domestic abuse. Far too often domestic violence | | | | regarded as "worthless pieces of paper". The use of |
| victims become cyberstalking victims and our nation's | | | | GPS technology with restraining orders is one way |
| resources and antiquated laws are not equipped to | | | | that technology is helping to improve the quality of |
| tackle these more difficult cases involving the use of | | | | life for many victims of stalking and abuse. |
| technology. | | | | |
| | | | | Today, GPS technology may be utilized with |
| Domestic abusers have extended their reach in ways | | | | restraining orders in 13 states. California is amongst 4 |
| unlike ever before. For millions of domestic abuse | | | | other states that are in the initial stages of proposing |
| victims' who are already the target of an abuser, and | | | | similar legislation this coming year. |
| need to keep data from them it is particularly difficult | | | | |
| in the 21st century primarily because of the on-line | | | | If you are a victim of domestic violence or |
| datafurnishing industry and the many databases that | | | | cyberstalking you are not alone. For more |
| house consumer private records information. | | | | information contact Alexis A. Moore, President and |
| Cyberstalking is a growing threat in our increasingly | | | | Founder of Survivors In Action. |
| automated, technology-dependant society. | | | | |