No research has systematically examined what specific strategies may work best to end stalking. It has been hypothesized that anti-stalking strategies will only be effective if they can overcome the unique motivations of a particular type of stalker. A strategy that may be effective in dealing with one type of stalker likely will not be effective in dealing with all stalkers.

What follows is a list of strategies that have been demonstrated to be effective among stalking victims across the state of Texas based on research conducted by the website's authors. In the absence of research on the topic, the stalking victim, mental health professionals, and law enforcement personnel are in the best position to make decisions about what strategies should be employed on a case by case basis. The authors of this website hope to conduct research on this topic in the coming year with continued support from the Texas Governor's Office, Criminal Justice Division.

Protect Yourself
(a) Obtain an order of protection.
(b) Do not ignore any threat. Call the police or sheriff's department.
(c) Save any record of the threat.
(d) Have quick access to critical telephone numbers and the location of safe places, such as: Police Stations, friend's houses, domestic violence shelters, etc.
(e) Consider a home security check. (Local police branches, victim support agencies, and security companies may offer this service.)
(f) Keep a packed suitcase in the car for a quick departure.
(g) Keep gas in your car and adequate money or credit cards in your wallet.
(h) Limit the distribution of your home address and phone number. Provide business contact information instead, whenever possible.
(i) Consider getting a Post Office Box for correspondence or installing a locking letter box.
(j) Make sure all personal information on letters or paperwork is destroyed before discarding it. (Stalkers may go through your trash looking for personal information.)
(k) Have your address and other contact details removed from all public records, including electoral rolls, libraries, business cards, driver's license, car registration, and medical registries.
(l) If children are involved, they should be instructed in basic safety drills. Their school should also be notified, given information about the stalker, and security arrangements should be made for them in case the stalker appears there.
(m) Keep a detailed diary of the stalkers behavior, including photographs of destroyed property, photographs of injuries inflicted by the stalker, recordings of harassing messages, license plate numbers, etc.
-Keep pen and paper easily accessible, even in the car, for this purpose.
(n) Install dead bolt locks. If you do not know where all of your keys are, change your locks immediately.
(o) If possible, install outdoor lighting, lockable windows, exterior motion sensor lights, and peepholes in doors.
-Trimming shrubbery is also recommended.
(p) Vary your routes of travel.
(q) Park in safe, well-lit areas. Always have someone escort you to and from your car.
(r) Tell your managers, co-workers, friends, and security at your business and residence about the stalker. If possible, provide them with a description and photograph. Ask them to alert you in advance about the stalker's presence and call the police, if appropriate.
(s) Purchase a mobile phone for emergencies.
(t) Use an unlisted home phone number and acquire caller-ID.
(u) Do not change your phone number. A stalker may view this as a new challenge to overcome in order to be with you, feeding their false beliefs. Instead, purchase an answering machine and ask a same-gender friend to record the message (so as not to provoke a stalker who mistakenly perceives competition).
(w) Take self-defense training classes.
(x) File police reports of any illegal behavior perpetrated by the stalker.

Diffuse the unique motivations of the stalker
(a) Make it completely clear that a relationship is not wanted now or in the future.
-Say this only once.
-Use plain language.
-Try not to be emotional.
-Avoid using threatening or humiliating language.
-You may want to rehearse with a friend before speaking with the stalker.
(b) Do not engage in further discussions with the stalker.
-Do not argue with them.
-Do not negotiate with them.
-Ongoing communication will reward the stalker and lead him to maintain contact.

Be careful not to unintentionally encourage the stalker
(a) Never initiate contact with the stalker. They may misperceive this to indicate that you are interested in them.
(b) Statements like, "I'm sorry, but I'm just not interested in a relationship at the moment," or "I'm too busy for this right now," may imply that you could be interested in a relationship some time in the future.
(c) Statements like, "I already have a boyfriend," may be interpreted as "I'd go out with you but for my boyfriend."
(d) Do not let them down easy by delivering your rejection in installments. This will only needlessly prolong the relationship. This may give the stalker hope or give his obsession with you time to grow.
(e) Do not return unsolicited letters of gifts. This may prove to the stalker that he is connecting with you.

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Victim Services

Important Phone Numbers in Texas
Police/Sheriff: 911
Texas Council on Family Violence: 800-525-1978
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
TYY/TDD Telecommunications for the Deaf: 800-787-3224
Texas Women's Advocacy Project Family Violence Hotline: 800-777-3247
State Bar of Texas: 800-204-2222
Texas Legal Services Center: 512-477-6000
Texas Women's Advocacy Project: 800-777-3247 in Austin: 512-476-1866
Texas Department of Human Services Abuse Hotline: 800-252-5400
Crime Victims' Compensation: 800-983-9933

Protective Orders

(a) A protective order is a civil court order issued to prevent continuing acts of family violence. Family include blood relative or relatives by marriage.
(b) A protective order may prohibit the offender from:
-committing further acts of family violence
-harassing or threatening the victim, either directly or indirectly by communicating the threat through another person
-going to or near a school or day-care center that a chile protected under the order attends
(c) You can apply for a protective order through:
-a district or county attorney
-a private attorney
-a legal aid service program
(d) Protective orders will go into effect no later than 14 days after an application is filed. If a court finds that there is a clear and present danger of family violence, the court may immediately issue a temporary ex parte order. The temporary order is valid for up to 20 days. The final order is effective for up to one year.

If a person violates a protective order and law enforcement is notified, officials will arrest the offender. The offender may be fined, sentenced to jail time, or both.
A protective order may be filed by:
-an adult member of the family or household
-any adult for the protection of a child
-a prosecuting attorney
-the Department of Human Regulatory Services
(e) Magistrate's Order for Emergency Protection: it may be issued at the time of a defendant's appearance before a magistrate after arrest for an offense involving family violence or sexual assault. It may be issued by the magistrate or on the request of:
-the victim
-a guardian of the victim
-a peace officer
-an attorney representing the state

This order prohibits the arrested offender from committing any further acts of family violence, communicating with a member of the family or household named in the order, or making any threats or going near the place of employment, household or business of a member of the household.
The victim does not have to be in court when the order is issued.
Violation of the order may result in a fine, jail time, or both.