Multidisciplinary Training Event – Identifying and Responding to Stalking
On May 1, 2025, The Office of Community Safety participated in a training event to inform, educate, and share prevention and intervention information to the Community.
The full-day training event focused on identifying and responding to stalking—a crime that remains dangerously misunderstood and under-addressed. The event featured expert-led sessions designed to equip attendees with tools to better support survivors, identify patterns of stalking behavior, and build a coordinated community response. Hosted by Hon. Jacqueline Lucas, Prince William Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Judge, in partnership with local law enforcement and legal organizations, and supported by a grant from the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. “Stalking is a serious and complex crime that often goes unnoticed,” said Judge Jacqueline Lucas. “This training provides professionals with the knowledge and tools to make a real difference in victims’ lives.”
The presentations included:
-
Centering on Survivor Voices: Robert Buswell shares his powerful personal journey through the criminal justice system after reporting sexual abuse nearly 30 years after the fact.
-
Stalking Prevalence, Dynamics, and Behaviors: Provided by the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center (SPARC), this session explores the context, tactics, and overlap with domestic and sexual violence.
-
Use of Technology to Stalk: SPARC experts will examine how perpetrators exploit digital tools to harass and control victims, and how professionals can respond effectively.
-
Coordinated Community Response: The final session underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration to protect victims and pursue justice. Rachel Taylor, Domestic Violence Analyst for the PWC Office of Community Safety said, “Hearing the stories and information that was presented today highlights how interconnected these issues are, and how vast a reach is needed across different individuals and agencies. It reinforces how important it is to coordinate across disciplines to keep our community safe.”
The training was highly attended by victim advocates, law enforcement, attorneys, educators, and other related professionals from Prince William County. The Office of Community Safety looks forward to sharing additional prevention and intervention events to enhance safety in our County.
