What to do if you are being stalked

What to do if you are being stalked:

• If you are in IMMEDIATE DANGER, call 911

• Contact University Security/Police to file a report. They can assist you with understanding and taking action if the stalker has broken the law. Remember, every state has stalking laws, including Nebraska. If you don't want to contact the Police alone, consider contacting counselors and Domestic Abuse Centers who can assist you in filling out the paperwork. Resources can be found in Student's campus resource list and Employee's campus resource list
  
  
• Keep EVIDENCE by documenting the stalking. When the stalker follows you or contacts you, keep a log of the time, date, place and other details you may find of importance. Keep all e-mails, phone messages, letters, notes or social media messages. Photograph anything of yours the stalker damages and any injuries they may cause. Keep a list of any witnesses to the incidents. Ask witnesses to also write down what they saw. Keeping this information will be very beneficial if you decide to get a protection order.

• Consider getting a Court Order/Protection Order that tells the offender to stay away from you. Counselors and Domestic Abuse Centers can assist you in filling out the paperwork. Your campus resource list provides local contact information for counselors and centers.

• Don't COMMUNICATE with the stalker or respond to their attempts to contact you. Communicating with them will only encourage them to continue.

• Develop a Safety Plan. Include things like changing your routine, arranging place to stay, and having a friend go places with you. Also, decide in advance what to do if the offender shows up at your residence, classroom, work or somewhere else.

• Tell FAMILY, FRIENDS and OTHERS YOU TRUST about the stalking and seek their support.

• Get CAMPUS SUPPORT. The prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression is much higher among stalking victims than the general population, especially if the stalking involves being followed or having one's property destroyed. There are many services on campus that are here to offer you support. Your campus resource list provides local contact information for counselors and help centers.

• Trust your INSTINCTS. Don't downplay the danger. If you feel you are unsafe, you probably are. Take THREATS seriously. Danger generally is higher when the stalker talks about harming themselves or someone else, or when a victim/survivor tries to leave or end a relationship.