As a victim advocate, your best friend became a victim of a crime of violence after being stalked for several months, and that incident changed your life. You provided comfort and support to your friend during the judicial process and you guided that friend through the criminal judicial process. Your efforts were successful in obtaining the help needed and criminal justice outcomes desired by your friend.
The new prosecutor for whom you have been working as a victims’ witness assistant has had several calls from victims of stalking. Some cases seem more serious than other cases; however, one case that no one in the office thought was serious resulted in the victim’s death. Everyone thought that the couple was just going through a difficult breakup. This case had a tremendous impact on the entire office, especially you.
To help make sure that the office does not minimize a potentially dangerous situation again, the prosecutor has asked you to put together an intake, evaluation, and assessment instrument to be used in taking information on stalking situations. Be sure to check stalking statutes, and cite the elements of the crime of stalking in your documents.
In 2 pages, provide a guide for using the intake form for stalking or other crime victims.