Stalking Awareness Month

Stalking is a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that causes them to fear for their safety or the safety of others, or causes them to suffer substantial emotional distress.

Human trafficking is the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labor or sexual exploitation.

Stalkers use a variety of tactics, including (but not limited to) unwanted contact including phone calls, texts, and contact via social media, unwanted gifts, showing up at unwelcome times and locations, approaching an individual or their family/friends, monitoring, surveillance, property damage, and threats.

Human traffickers also use a variety of tactics to control people, including physical and emotional abuse and threats, manipulation, fraud, isolation from friends and family, and economic abuse.

Anyone can be a victim of stalking or human trafficking. A majority of victims are stalked or trafficked by someone they know and trust.

Stalking and human trafficking is a crime in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the military and tribal lands.

Approximately one in three women and one in six men have been stalked at some point in their lives. Twenty-four percent of female victims and 19% of male victims report being stalked as minors. Fifty-eight percent of female victims and 49% of male victims report being stalked before the age of 25.

Texas has the second most reported human trafficking cases in the United States, averaging over 900 reports per year. Sex trafficking, including pornography and commercial sex, is more prevalent than labor trafficking.

Report incidents of stalking or human trafficking by contacting the Dallas College Campus Police:

• Call 911 from a campus phone
• Call 972-860-4290 when using a mobile phone or non-campus phone. Add the phone number to your list of contacts on your mobile phone.

Report incidents of stalking or human trafficking to the Title IX team:

• Call 972-860-3980
  
• Email TitleIX@DallasCollege.edu
• Complete a Dallas College Sexual Misconduct Report

The Title IX team can help connect you to support resources – emergency/medical, counseling/mental health, educational, and safety. Email TitleIX@DallasCollege.edu or call 972-860-3980 for more information.

Students can request a confidential counseling appointment at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) by emailing Counseling@DallasCollege.edu or by calling 972-669-6400. Currently enrolled students aged 18 or older can request a virtual or on-campus counseling appointment.

Employees can request confidential counseling through the Employee Assistance Program at awpnow.com or by calling 800-343-3822 or 800-448-1823 (TDD). 

Let your classmates, coworkers, and friends know that help is available.