Violent versus nonviolent stalkers

Abstract

Medical records of 42 pretrial detainees charged with stalking in South Carolina from January 1992 to January 1996 were reviewed. The group was divided into 22 nonviolent and 20 violent stalkers. Stalkers were classified as violent if they had associated charges involving bodily harm to their victims or if they met the criteria for South Carolina's legal definition of aggravated stalking. Variables compared included age, sex, marital status, level of education, substance abuse, Axis I diagnosis, military history, organicity, and whether the victim was a casual associate or had a previous attachment to the stalker. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups. Approaching statistical significance was the finding that violent stalkers were more likely to have had a previous attachment to their victims, and nonviolent stalkers were more likely to be casually associated with their victims.