January is National Stalking Awareness Month

I didn't want January to pass by without a short blog post related to my platform, "Stay Aware, Stay Safe", which focuses on safety for women and their families. Did you know that January is National Stalking Awareness Month? Stalking is a dangerous crime that affects 3.4 million adults in the United States each year. While legal definitions of stalking vary from jurisdiction to another, a general definition of stalking is "a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear."

Here are some other interesting facts about stalking from the National Center for Victims of Crime:

• 3 in 4 stalking victims are stalked by someone they know
• 1 in 4 victims report being stalked through the use of some form of technology (like email or text messaging) 
•  76% of intimate female victims have been stalked by their intimate partner
• Stalking is a crime under the laws of 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, and the federal government

The more we understand about stalking, the more we can do to prevent it. Please visit www.stalkingawarenessmonth.org for more facts and information on stalking.

As part of my platform outreach, I hope to educate women on how they can take action to keep themselves and their families safe. Be aware of your surroundings and the people you meet. When going out, let a spouse or family member know where you are going and keep your charged cell phone handy. And most importantly, walk with confidence and with a purpose.

Until next time,

Melissa Kirk, Mrs. New Castle County United States 2012