Department of Public Safety Bystander Intervention

Bystander Intervention Training The Department of Public Safety and Sinclair Police take pride in maintaining a safe campus for staff, faculty, students and visitors. This PowerPoint© presentation is part of the department’s on-going program to provide informative training that the campus community may study and learn from. Sinclair Police officers that patrol the campus are available to answer any questions. In addition, the Sinclair Police Speaker’s Bureau can provide an officer to speak to any campus group by contacting the department at (937) 512-2700.

Tips for Bystanders It Only Takes One Person If you see something, SAY SOMETHING! Everyone has a role in preventing sexual violence. Bystanders are the largest group of people involved in violence - they greatly outnumber both the perpetrators and the victims. Bystanders have a range of involvement in assaults. Some know that a specific assault is happening or will happen, some see an assault or potential assault in progress, and some know that assaults do happen.

Bystander Definitions Bystander- A person who witnesses an act of violence. Bystander Effect - The more bystanders that witness the incident, the less likely they all are to call for help.

Bystander Intentions Aiming to reduce sexual assault victimization and perpetration, while holding perpetrators more accountable for their actions. YOU can make a difference! Regardless of how close the assault is taking place, you and other bystanders have the power to stop assaults from occurring and to get help for people who have been victimized. We have all been bystanders in our lives, and we will all be in situations where we are bystanders in the future.

How do I know when to intervene? Ask yourself these questions Is there a potential problem? Does someone need help? (If YOU were in the same situation, would you want help?) Are you able to help? Will anyone else help or stand up for this person if you don’t? (REMEMBER the bystander effect!)

How do I know when to intervene? Examples of situations to intervene: You’re at a party and you overhear someone’s plan to sexually take advantage of another person. You hear someone joke about getting someone drunk in order to have sex with them. You think you see someone slip something into a drink. You see someone who is clearly impaired being taken away from the party and are unsure of their safety. You see someone being sexually or physically abused or taken advantage of.

How do I know when to intervene? Look out for sexually or physically aggressive behaviors: Inappropriate touching Pushing boundaries Overly sexual remarks Targeting an intoxicated person Encouraging or pressuring heavy drinking Isolation (i.e., taking someone upstairs, etc.)

How do I know when to intervene? When in doubt, trust your gut instincts! The choice becomes whether you are going to be an active bystander who speaks up and says something, or whether you will be a passive bystander who stands by and says nothing. We are not advocating that you risk your own safety in order to be an active bystander. Remember, there is a range of actions that are appropriate, depending on the situation. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call Sinclair Police at (937) 512-2700 or dial 9-1-1 from any campus phone

Everyday Interventions Discourage victim-blaming, while shifting responsibility from victims to perpetrators. Do not engage in sexually inappropriate conversations. Speak out against negative social norms: For instance, the social legitimacy of obtaining sex from an intoxicated person. “She was asking for it” myth.

Step In & Step Up! “In the end we will not remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends” –Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Will you pledge to step up and engage in bystander intervention? Will you teach others about bystander intervention? As opposed to being the bystander who stands by and does nothing, we want to create a culture of bystanders who are actively engaged in the prevention of violence.

Step In & Step Up! For more information Contact Sinclair Police at (937) 512-2700 or dial 9-1-1 from any campus phone