National Stalking Awareness Month: What It Is and How to Take Part
Important: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not legal, medical, or professional advice. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 (United States) or your local emergency number.
Quick answer
January is National Stalking Awareness Month in the United States, a time to learn the signs of stalking, share accurate information, and connect people to help. Individuals can check their privacy settings and share reliable resources, schools and employers can train staff and clarify reporting, and communities can host safe events. Always center victim safety and use government sources for facts.
What National Stalking Awareness Month Is
The Office of Justice Programs notes that January is National Stalking Awareness Month (OJP). The observance exists to raise public understanding that stalking is a serious crime, to help people recognize it, and to connect victims with help. Stalking is a crime in all 50 states and at the federal level, and OJP describes it as dangerous and potentially lethal.
The month is not about any single organization. It is a shared window for schools, workplaces, agencies, and communities to pay attention to the issue at the same time.
Why Awareness Matters: The Numbers
Awareness matters because stalking is common and often unnamed.
- About 1.3 percent of people age 16 or older, or 3.4 million, were stalked in 2019, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
- Only 29 percent of victims reported to police.
- The CDC found that more than 1 in 5 women and about 1 in 10 men have been stalked in their lifetimes.
Many victims don't recognize what is happening or don't know where to turn. Clear information, shared widely, can shorten the time between "something feels wrong" and "I know what to do."
Ways Individuals Can Take Part
You don't need a platform to make a difference.
- Learn the signs. Read what stalking is and the stalking behavior checklist.
- Check your own privacy. Review social media settings, location sharing, and your listings on people-search sites.
- Share accurate facts, with the source and the year, rather than shocking claims.
- Talk to someone. Mention to a friend or family member that you've been reading about it, and ask whether they have questions.
- Share trusted resources, such as your state's guide in the State Reporting Guide.
Small, steady actions help more than one big gesture.
Ways Schools and Campuses Can Take Part
Schools can use January to teach about boundaries, consent, digital privacy, and how to report. Ideas include a short class segment on recognizing stalking, a campus safety table with printed resources, a review of reporting procedures so students know where to go, and training for resident advisors and counselors. Make sure students know that they will not be punished for reporting, and that campus police and student affairs can issue no-contact directives and academic accommodations. Our Protection Guide includes campus scenarios.
Ways Employers Can Take Part
Workplaces can protect employees by treating schedule and location information as confidential, training managers and security staff to recognize stalking and respond calmly, offering flexible arrangements, and having a clear, confidential way to report. January is a good time to update visitor policies, remind staff not to confirm an employee's presence to callers, and share information about employee assistance programs. Link to the Protection Guide for workplace scenarios.
Ways Communities and Agencies Can Take Part
Libraries, faith communities, neighborhood groups, and local governments can host or share events, display safety information, and invite local victim services to speak. Law enforcement and prosecutors can offer training, publicize how to report, and highlight victim-witness services. Local governments sometimes issue proclamations, which can draw attention to local resources. The Office for Victims of Crime directory lists victim services by state.
Sharing Safely on Social Media
Awareness posts reach many people, so a few cautions matter.
- Never share a victim's story, photo, or location without their clear consent, and think about how a stalker might use it.
- Cite government sources for statistics, and include the year.
- Include how to get help, such as 911 for emergencies and your state's guide.
- Avoid sensational language that frightens without helping.
- Don't encourage vigilante action. Urge people to report to police and victim services.
A Four-Week January Plan
If you'd like a simple way to take part, try this.
- Week 1: Learn. Read the complete guide to stalking.
- Week 2: Protect. Run the Safety Audit and remove one people-search listing.
- Week 3: Talk. Share a resource with one friend, coworker, or student.
- Week 4: Act. Ask your school or workplace how it handles stalking reports, and offer to help improve it.
Using Stalking.org's Resources
Stalking.org offers free tools and guides you can share during the month: the Risk Assessment, Safety Plan, Evidence Auditor, the State Reporting Guide, and the Understanding Stalking Guide. Learn more in the Stalking Resource Center guide. Journalists can visit the Media Room.
For Journalists and Educators
Responsible coverage centers safety. Get consent, avoid details that identify a victim's location or routine, use sourced statistics, include how to get help, and avoid framing that blames victims or romanticizes stalking. Teachers can pair facts with skills: how to document, how to secure an account, and how to report.
After January: Keeping It Going
Awareness is only useful if it changes what people do. Keep the conversation going after January: update your own safety plan, keep your privacy settings current, and remember that a single conversation can help someone start. Stalking doesn't follow a calendar, and neither should help.
A Sample Awareness Message, and What to Avoid
A good awareness post is short, accurate, and points to help. For example: "January is National Stalking Awareness Month. About 3.4 million people in the U.S. were stalked in 2019, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Stalking is a crime in every state. If you are in danger, call 911. Free tools and state-by-state reporting guides are at Stalking.org." What to avoid: anything that shares a victim's story or location without clear consent, graphic details, jokes that treat stalking as flattery, advice that encourages confronting a stalker, and unsourced numbers. When in doubt, link to a government source and keep the message about what readers can do.
Questions Your Community Can Ask in January
Awareness can lead to action when people ask practical questions. Does our school or workplace have a clear, confidential way to report stalking? Do front-desk and security staff know not to confirm where someone is? Do local police and prosecutors publish how to report and how protective orders work? Are victim services easy to find on our city or county website? Is there someone trained to help when a person asks for help? Ask the questions out loud, write down the answers, and follow up after the month ends. Our State Reporting Guide can help you find official contacts.
Find your state's reporting guide →Official contacts and protective-order steps for your state.Resources to Print and Display
Printed material still reaches people who are not comfortable searching online, and it can be picked up quietly. Consider printing your state's guide from the State Reporting Guide, the Understanding Stalking Guide, and a short card listing 911, 988, and your local non-emergency number. Place them where people can take them without being seen: a library shelf, a break room, a restroom, or a campus health center. Remind readers that a printed plan is safer than a file on a device the stalker may see.
Keep Safety at the Center
Whatever you plan, keep one rule in mind: the people most affected by stalking decide how their stories are told. Offer information and options, and never pressure anyone to share.
Awareness is not the goal. A person knowing what to do, and being believed when they do it, is.Generate and print your Safety Plan →Turn four answers into a discreet, printable emergency action plan.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
When is National Stalking Awareness Month?
January of each year.
Why is there a stalking awareness month?
To raise public understanding that stalking is a serious crime, help people recognize it, and connect victims with help.
How can I take part?
Learn the signs, check your privacy settings, share accurate resources with the source, and talk to someone you trust.
Can schools and workplaces take part?
Yes. They can offer training, clarify reporting procedures, protect schedule and location information, and share resources.
Is it safe to share stories on social media?
Only with the clear consent of the person involved, and with care about location and safety. Avoid sharing details that a stalker could use.
Where can I get accurate statistics?
From the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the CDC, both of which publish their methods. Our statistics guide links to the originals.
What should I do if I'm being stalked right now?
Call 911 if you are in danger, document what is happening, make a safety plan, and report when you are ready.