This instructional video – one in a series of training videos on staking sponsored by the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC) – is a comment by a law enforcement leader on the obstacles law enforcement officers face in stalking investigations.
The instructor is Sergeant Denise Jones of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (Ohio). She makes a brief comment on the main obstacle an officer faces in responding to a complaint that may involve a stalking violation. This main obstacle is a lack of training in the provisions and application of the jurisdictional state’s stalking law. Such training would include both familiarity with the wording and intent of the stalking law and familiarity with the types of behaviors state courts have found to constitute violations of the state’s stalking law. With this knowledge gained through training, officers are better prepared to make a judgement as to whether a particular case warrants investigation or arrest for stalking.