Intimate Partner Stalking: Economic Harm Caused

On this page, find:

• Economic Harm to Intimate Partner Stalking Victims
• Costs to Society of Intimate Partner Stalking

Economic Harm to Intimiate Partner Stalking Victims

In addition to fear, distress and health problems that result from being stalked, the economic security of partner stalking victims is also at risk.

• Some research suggests that employment is associated with stalking victimization and found that employed victims experienced twice as many stalking tactics and were stalked three times longer than unemployed victims. [1] [2]
• Stalking victims frequently lose time from work, have actually lost a job, or are unable to take advantage of employment opportunities such as promotions or obtaining a better job due to the stalking. [3-8] For example, partner stalking victims lost about 78 hours of productivity time (mostly time from work), on average during the 6-month follow-up period after receiving a protective order compared with 18 hours for those that experienced ongoing violations but not stalking, and 4 hours for those who experienced no violations or stalking. [9]
• In addition to lost jobs and/or time from work, other consequences of stalking can jeopardize employment. [10-12] For example, partner violence victims who had ever been stalked by their violent partner reported (1) more direct on-the-job harassment (e.g., showing up at work, calling, lying to co-workers, harassing co-workers), (2) indirect job disruption (e.g., feeling too upset or stressed to work or continue working, sabotaging childcare arrangements or the car) and (3) indirect job performance interference (e.g., trouble concentrating at work) than partner violence victims who reported never being stalked. [13]
• Stalking victims also report significant property damage and other financial harm (e.g., ordering items in the victim's name, ruining credit). [14-18] Partner violence victims who experienced violations and stalking after a protective order was obtained incurred an average of $610 in property loss or damage during the 6-month follow-up period, compared with $135 for those who experienced ongoing violations but not stalking, and $15 for those that experienced no violations or stalking. [19]
• Costs are also incurred for other reasons, including (1) safety reasons, such as devices to increase security (e.g., alarms) and changing residences; (2) legal fees; and (3) health and mental health treatment. [20-25]

Costs to Society of Intimate Partner Stalking

Although few studies have examined the cost of partner violence to society, the few that have suggest that partner stalking is costly, although estimates to date are likely to be underestimates.

• Researchers estimated that partner stalking cost $342 million in 2003 dollars for lost productivity and mental health care. This is likely to be a significant underestimate given that several significant cost categories were not included. [26]
• Researchers also estimated the cost of partner violence before and after a civil protective order was obtained against a male partner. The cost estimate included: (1) direct health, mental health and victim services used to cope with partner violence; (2) justice system costs; (3) lost productivity; and (4) property damage. Costs were then extrapolated to all those who obtained a protective order in 2007. [27]
  • For the estimated number of female stalking victims who obtained civil protective orders in 2007, partner violence and stalking cost the state about $9 million. Because this estimate only includes stalking victims who obtained a protective order in a one-year period (and not all those being stalked by a partner or those who had prior protective orders) this number is likely to be an underestimate. [28]
  • Partner stalking cases cost the state significantly more money than partner violence cases with ongoing protective order violations and more than cases with no protective order violations. [29]