page 2 of 2

SUPPORT THE VICTIMS

As you consider any response to a hate crime or bias incident, ask yourself these questions:

· Are victims and members of the targeted group still in danger? If so, find out what can be done to ensure safety. Are housing changes necessary? What about campus security, extra patrols, safety escorts and so on?

· Are top-level administrators getting more information about the investigation than the victims are? What can be done to remedy that?

· Are victims and/or members of the targeted group being excluded from the discussion and planning process? If so, seek ways to include them. The same holds for families of victims and/or targeted communities.

· Are the victims' wishes being met? If she requests anonymity, will planned community events re-injure her? Wanting to help and actually helping can be two very different things.

· What happens if the victim doesn't want to press charges or pursue justice? Will student advocates honor that choice, or should a case be made that justice is necessary to prevent future victimizations?

· Are your campus police officers trained to recognize and investigate hate crimes? Learn more about Law Enforcement training, offered with partial scholarships by the Southern Poverty Law Center (see Resources).

· Is the burden of action on the victim? Support requires action, not inaction. Your job is to reach out, and determine what the victim wants to do. If a victim then asks for privacy and distance, honor that. But reach out first.

Next >   5 NAME IT, KNOW IT · page 1