Strangulation is different to other types of physical violence as it often leaves no visible injuries and is frequently motivated by coercive control. Few studies have explored nonfatal strangulation and coercive control, and no studies have explored these factors within a sample of stalkers. Given that stalking perpetrators exhibit many of the coercively controlling behaviors related to nonfatal strangulation, the current study explored nonfatal strangulation and other coercively controlling behaviors in a stalking sample. A police dataset of 9,884 cases of domestic violence that involved stalking was analyzed. Results revealed that coercive control and related behaviors of excessive jealousy, victim isolation, victim fear, and victim’s belief that the perpetrator will kill them were associated with higher likelihood of having experienced nonfatal strangulation. These results may help first responders to identify victims at risk of nonfatal strangulation and suggest a need for nonfatal strangulation to be a criminal offense.

Stalkers can be violent, and empirical studies have sought to identify factors associated with violence perpetrated by the stalker. Most of these works view physical violence as a homogenous construct, and do not differentiate between moderate and severe violence. The present study aims to identify correlates of non-violent, moderate, and severe physical violence within an archival sample of 369 domestically violent police incident reports, where stalking behavior was indicated. The incident reports utilized in this study occurred between 2013 and 2017, among intimate or ex-intimate partners. The present study explored twelve independent variables that have yielded mixed findings in previous stalking violence literature, as well as two previously untested factors of non-fatal strangulation and child contact. The police records were coded for severity of physical violence using the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale, and analysed using a Logistic Regression. The regression analysis revealed significant independent associations between the outcome variable of severe physical violence and child contact, history of domestic violence, separation, non-fatal strangulation, jealousy, previous injury, and victim belief of potential harm. These results may help to produce pragmatic recommendations for law enforcement agencies and other relevant bodies who seek to identify victims at risk of severe violence, increasing the potential for early intervention and prevention of physical harm. The awareness of factors that are shown to be related to serious physical violence may assist first responders in recognizing which victims may be at risk of serious harm, as well as effectively allocating any appropriate resources to reduce and prevent harm.

The criminal offense of stalking is somewhat different to other offenses due to the repetitive, innocuous, and often multifaceted nature of the crime. Given that stalking constitutes a number of different behaviors, such as violence and threats, research on stalking recidivism becomes difficult as recidivism can be defined in a number of ways. This study utilized a dataset of Western Australia Police Force incident reports, comprising a sample of 404 stalking offenders. Survival curves and a binomial logistic regression were used to determine time to recidivism and predictors of recidivism, using four different definitions of recidivism. Predictor variables included age of the offender, prior history of criminal charges, and offender ethnicity. The four definitions ranged from narrow (a new stalking charge) to broad (any new criminal charge). The results of the study show that stalkers reoffend quickly, however our understanding of how fast and which offender characteristics predict recidivism, is dependent on how we define recidivism. This highlights the importance of considering how stalking recidivism is defined in future works and may explain current differences in stalking recidivism findings.

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Little attention has been paid to harassing and threatening behavior experienced by frontline staff who are employed to support politicians. This survey-based study sought to (a) collect information on the work-life prevalence and nature of harassment and threatening behavior engaged in by members of the public toward the frontline staff of parliamentarians in Western Australia, (b) collect information on the impact of this behavior and responses to it, and (c) inform the improvement of procedures for fixated threat assessment and risk management designed to enhance the security of parliamentarians and their staff. Almost two thirds of the sample (N ϭ 132) had experienced 1 or more of 19 threatening, harassing, and other concerning and intrusive behaviors. The behaviors most commonly endorsed included inappropriate telephone calls, loitering, unwanted approaches, and threats. Respondents reported a negative impact, including fear of physical assault. The survey findings provided the basis for a proactive approach covering aspects of physical, procedural, and relational security and psychoeducation. Reported behaviors of concern are now assessed by the Western Australia Fixated Threat Assessment Centre, and this article provides an overview of the relevant processes. Public Significance StatementThis study examines harassing and threatening behavior experienced by frontline staff employed by members of Parliament in Western Australia. Almost two thirds of staff reported these experiences, and negative consequences were noted. Measures that were taken to improve responses and support are discussed.