Blog Post: Recognizing the Connection between Stalking, Intimate Partner Violence, and Sexual Assault
DC Forensic Nurse Examiners (DCFNE) is driven by our mission to lessen the impact of violence in Washington, D.C. While our work primarily involves providing care to individuals after they have experienced sexual or domestic violence, National Stalking Awareness Month offers an opportunity to highlight a pervasive issue that is often a precursor to such harm: stalking.
Each year, an estimated 13.5 million individuals in the United States experience stalking. Despite its widespread occurrence, stalking remains a largely underrecognized form of violence, with profound implications for both public safety and individual well-being. By recognizing the realities of stalking and its link to intimate partner violence and sexual assault, we aim to inform survivors of violence of the risks associated with stalking.
What is stalking?
According to the Stalking Prevention and Awareness Resource Center (SPARC), stalking is defined as “a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress.” Two or more incidents of stalking behavior can be considered a pattern, but legal definitions of stalking vary from state to state. Common tactics used in stalking may include:
Sending unwanted calls/messages
Sending unwanted gifts
Following and watching the victim
Approaching the victim uninvited
Tracking and monitoring the victim
How does stalking affect survivors?
Survivors of stalking report significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and heightened fear for their safety compared to those who have not experienced such trauma. Additionally, many victims suffer from lost work time and, in some cases, are forced to relocate in order to escape their stalkers. These fears are not unfounded: one in five stalking cases involve the use of weapons to threaten or harm the victim, and research indicates that stalking increases the likelihood of homicide by threefold.
What is the connection between stalking, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault?
There is a direct and deeply concerning correlation between stalking, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault. Approximately 40% of reported stalking cases involve perpetrators who are the victim's current or former intimate partner. Often, patterns of violence and control within a relationship are followed by stalking once the relationship ends. Moreover, individuals stalked by former intimate partners face significantly higher rates of sexual abuse compared to those stalked by non-partners. In fact, research shows that one in three women who are stalked by a former partner also experience sexual assault by that partner.
How does DCFNE support survivors of stalking?
DCFNE provides medical forensic exams for survivors of physical and sexual violence in Washington, D.C at no cost. Individuals who have experienced violence due to stalking can access this support by calling the DC Victim Hotline at 844-4-HELP-DC, or by visiting MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s Emergency Department. DCFNE’s nurses are equipped to document injuries and collect specimens, which may be valuable if the survivor decides to pursue legal action. Importantly, patients are not required to report to law enforcement in order to receive services. Our primary goal is to assist survivors in their healing process through the care we provide.
Resources:
Stalking Awareness Month 2025
SPARC Stalking Fact Sheet
SPARC "What Is Stalking? Definitions and FAQs"
SPARC Stalking IPV Fact Sheet
SPARC Stalking Sexual Violence Fact Sheet