The Stalking of Lawyers: A Survey Amongst Professionals in Milan |
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Authors: | Isabella Merzagora Betsos D.L. Psy.S. Matteo Marchesi M.D. |
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Affiliation: | Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Section of Legal and Insurance Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, , Milano, 20133 Italy |
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Abstract: | This is the first study focused on the stalking of lawyers. The authors hypothesized that these professionals are at risk of being stalked by their clients and that this stalking is ascribable to RECON type I.B. A random sample of lawyers was survived. 37.3% of 166 respondents revealed to have been stalked: not only by clients, but also by adversaries and colleagues. Data seem to confirm that the stalking of lawyers mainly belongs to RECON type I.B. Female lawyers were at greater risk than male lawyers. In family law cases, the professionals tended to be stalked by the former husbands of the lawyers' clients (p < 0.01). Several female lawyers—but no male lawyers—were threatened with harm to their family members (p < 0.05). Most of the stalking victims described psychological effects of being stalked. Who suffered physical aggression or repercussions on work was more likely to lodge a complaint (p < 0.01). |
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Keywords: | forensic science behavioral sciences criminology lawyer professional stalking targeted violence |
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