What to do following an incident
If you have been
victimized in a hate crime or hate incident, here are
some suggestions for things you should immediately do:
- In an emergency, dial
911, 0, or the emergency number in your area.
- Get medical attention
for any injuries.
- Call the police as
soon after the incident as possible. You may be
eligible for financial compensation for damages.
- Get the responding
officer's name and badge number.
- Write down all
details of the crime as quickly as possible after
the reporting.
- If you saw the
perpetrator(s), try to remember gender, age,
height, race, weight, build, clothes and other
distinguishing characteristics. If anything was
said, such as anti-gay epithets or threats, make
a mental note about them.
- Carefully preserve
any evidence, such as notes, clothing, graffiti,
tape recordings, fingerprints, etc. Take
photographs of any injuries and of the location
where the incident occurred.
- If you want the crime
to be reported as a hate/bias crime, tell the
officer to note that on the report.
- Make sure the officer
files an incident report form and assigns a case
number.
- If the police do not
assist you properly, file a complaint and contact
LAMBDA immediately.
- If a police report is
not taken at the time of your report, go to the
police station and ask for one. Always get your
own copy.
- Contact your local
GLBT community center, P-FLAG, the HATE-CRIME NETWORK, or the Hate Crime
National Hotline (206-350-4283) for assistance
& information -- even if you choose not to
contact the police. Contact your District
Attorney's office or police department's victim
services unit.
- LAMBDA's Anti-Violence
Project can often provide you with referrals to
local anti-violence and victim advocates in your
area.
- To complete a report
online, click here.
|