Interview with Tonya Jernigan, July 21, 2010

Interview Summary

Tonya Jernigan, a victims' advocate with the Fayette County Attorney's Office of Lexington, Kentucky, discusses stalking from the perspective of the victim. She describes the impact stalking has on victims' lives, particularly when they rely on their stalker for child support or insurance and would prefer them to avoid jail time. Jernigan discusses the primary motives stalkers have when stalking their victims, typically a form of control over the partner they are no longer in a relationship with. She talks about the large role domestic violence plays in stalking cases, discussing only one case where the victim and the stalker did not have a previous relationship. She talks about how attitudes about stalking have changed over time but still have to be changed both in and out of the field of domestic violence case law.

Interview Keyword

Victims and perpetrators Perpetrators (Criminal acts) Stalking behaviors Domestic violence Victim advocates Domestic violence crimes Victim impact Violence against women Victim cooperation Victimization Abusive relationships Dating partners Domestic partners Family law Kentucky Revised Statutes Domestic violence advocates

Interview LC Subject

Stalking Stalkers Family violence Lexington (Ky.) Stalking victims Stalking--Law and legislation Victims Intimate partner violence Abused women University of Kentucky Violent offenders Psychological abuse Prosecutors Unmarried partners Children

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Interview Usage

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