Abstract
In the current study, a survey was administered to 513 U.S. undergraduate college students from a large east coast university to examine whether extra-legal factors influenced their personal judgments of criminal justice system responsiveness to stalking. MANOVA results indicated that students believed police and prosecutors would not treat analogous cases similarly (this bias was not apparent with judges). College students perceived that prior relationship and target/offender gender would impact arrest decisions, and that target/offender gender would also impact police investigations and the filing of criminal charges. Potential explanations and practical implications of these findings are discussed, as well as directions for future research.
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Appendices
Appendix A: Sample Stalking Scenarios
This appendix includes four of the eight stalking scenarios (for stranger relationship, casual acquaintance relationship, casual sex partner relationship, and ex-intimate relationship). The other four scenarios consisted of these same vignettes, with the genders reversed.
Stranger Relationship
Monica noticed Kyle at a bar near campus where she worked. She was instantly attracted to Kyle, but the bar was so busy she didn’t get a chance to talk to him. When Kyle left the bar, Monica got his name from his credit card receipt that was left on the table. The next day, Monica obtained Kyle’s phone number and address from the campus directory and called him to ask if he would join her for dinner at a local diner. Trying to be polite, he told her he couldn’t make it. A few days later she called him again asking for a date to a movie. He told her he was not interested in seeing someone he didn’t know. Over the next week, Kyle found three messages on his answering machine from Monica, the final one indicating “if you don’t give me a chance then there will be trouble. You will be sorry.” The tone of the message frightened Kyle and the next day he asked his landlord to install a dead bolt lock.
Casual Acquaintance Relationship
Carrie and Troy met in a history class. Carrie had been instantly attracted to him. One night, Carrie saw Troy at a local bar near campus. She went up to him and they chatted about the previous weeks lecture for roughly 10 minutes until Troy told her he had to leave. The next day, Carrie obtained Troy’s phone number and address from the campus directory and called him to ask if he would join her for dinner at a local diner. Trying to be polite, he told her he couldn’t make it. A few days later she called him again asking for a date to a movie. He told her he was not interested in seeing her. Over the next week, Troy found three messages on his answering machine from Carrie, the final one indicating “if you don’t give me a chance then there will be trouble. You will be sorry.” The tone of the message frightened Troy and the next day he asked his landlord to install a dead bolt lock.
Casual Sex Partner Relationship
Trish noticed John at a bar near campus. She was instantly attracted to him and she spent about an hour flirting with him on the dance floor. After dancing, the two went out to the parking lot and had sex in John’s car. The next day, Trish obtained John’s phone number and address from the campus directory and called him to ask if he would join her for dinner at a local diner. Trying to be polite, he told her he couldn’t make it. A few days later she called him again asking for a date to a movie. He told her he was not interested in seeing her. Over the next week, John found three messages on his answering machine from Trish, the final one indicating “if you don’t give me a chance then there will be trouble. You will be sorry.” The tone of the message frightened John and the next day he asked his landlord to install a dead bolt lock.
Ex-Intimate Relationship
Stephanie noticed Justin at a bar near campus. She was instantly attracted to him and the two spent the whole night talking. The next day, Stephanie obtained Justin’s phone number and address from the campus directory and called him to ask if he would join her for dinner at a local diner. The date went very well and the two ended up dating seriously for over a year. Justin then ended the relationship. The day after the break-up, Stephanie called Justin and asked him to join her for dinner at their favorite restaurant. Trying to be polite, he told her he couldn’t make it. A few days later she called him again asking for a date to a movie. He told her he was not interested in seeing her again. Over the next week, Justin found three messages on his answering machine from Stephanie, the final one indicating “if you don’t give me a chance then there will be trouble. You will be sorry.” The tone of the message frightened Justin and the next day he asked his landlord to install a deadbolt lock.
Appendix B: Participants in Each Condition of the Experiment
Each respondent read one of eight possible scenarios. The “A” scenario showcased a female offender casual sex situation; the “B” scenario showcased a female offender stranger situation; the “C” scenario showcased a female offender acquaintance situation; the “D” scenario showcased a female offender ex-intimate situation; the “E” scenario showcased a male offender casual sex situation; the “F” scenario showcased a male offender stranger situation; the “G” scenario showcased a male offender acquaintance situation; the “H” scenario showcased a male offender ex-intimate situation. To ensure each classroom responded to each scenario, the scenarios were ordered and distributed sequentially (A–H).
In the end, among the 140 women who read a scenario with a woman stalking a man, 34 (24%) read a scenario with ex-intimate partners, 37 (26%) read a scenario with strangers, 38 (27%) read a scenario with acquaintances, and 31 (22%) read a scenario with casual sex partners. Among the 136 women who read a scenario with a man stalking a woman, 30 (22%) read a scenario with ex-intimate partners, 34 (25%) read a scenario with strangers, 32 (24%) read a scenario with acquaintances, and 40 (29%) read a scenario with casual sex partners. Among the 116 men who read a scenario with a woman stalking a man, 30 (26%) read a scenario with ex-intimate, 26 (22%) read a scenario with strangers, 27 (23%) read a scenario with acquaintances, and 33 (28%) read a scenario with casual sex partners. Among the 121 men who read a scenario with a man stalking a woman, 33 (27%) read a scenario with ex-intimate partners, 30 (25%) read a scenario with strangers, 33 (27%) read a scenario with acquaintances, and 25 (21%) read a scenario with casual sex partners.
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Cass, A.I., Rosay, A.B. College Student Perceptions of Criminal Justice System Responses to Stalking. Sex Roles 66, 392–404 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-9934-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-9934-3