For Immediate Release
February 6, 2004
Please Contact: Colin Durrant (617)722-1650 or
Dalié Jiménez, 617-722-1650

Barrios and Connolly Urge Increased Awareness of Stalking

Everett, MA – Saying “no one should have to feel their life is in danger,” Senator Jarrett Barrios and Representative Ed Connolly recently stepped up efforts to increase public awareness of the serious and dangerous crime of stalking. Both lawmakers announced their support for a bill filed in January, which would make that month Massachusetts Stalking Awareness Month. The often deadly crime affects more than one million women and nearly 400,000 men a year.

“By increasing the public’s awareness of stalking we can help make sure all Everett residents feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods,” said Senator Barrios, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Safety. “Every citizen deserves the right to live without fear from harassment.”

Connolly added, “Everyone in Everett is well aware of the dangers of stalking in light of the shocking circumstances surrounding the death of Sandy Berfield. On January 20, 2000, Sandy was killed when she opened a package bomb sent by her stalker. She had sought legal protection, but at the time, the law was inadequate to help her. ‘Sandy’s Law’ was passed by the Legislature in response to her tragic death.”

Stalking is considered persistent and unwanted harassing behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear that behavior. One in 12 women and one in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime, for an average duration of almost two years. Although its prevalence is high, public awareness that stalking is a crime remains dangerously low. The National Center for Victims of Crime officially recognized January 2004 as National Stalking Awareness Month and, in response, Massachusetts lawmakers acted to recognize the dangers of stalking annually.

“If we have any hope of addressing the devastating and too often fatal consequences of stalking we must begin by raising our collective awareness of it’s insidious nature,” said Nancy L. Scannell, Director of Government Affairs of Jane Doe Inc. Awareness of the issue and the ability to identify stalking behavior will help to save lives and prevent situations from becoming life threatening.

To learn more about the crime of stalking, Senator Barrios and Representative Connolly urge Everett residents to visit the following websites:

• National Center for Victims of Crime Stalking Resource Center: http://www.ncvc.org/src/
• Feel Safe Again: http://www.feelsafeagain.org/
• Jane Doe, Inc.: http://www.janedoe.org/ 

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