Campus Crime Victims

If You Are A Victim of Campus Crime

•  Victims of campus violence, like all victims of crime, react to their victimizations in many different ways. Immediately after the crime, victims often struggle with feelings of fear, helplessness, confusion, guilt, self-blame, shock, disbelief, denial, anger, shame and numerous other emotions.
• Victims may also have physical injuries and suffer damage to, or loss of, personal property. Since the perpetrator in a campus crime may be known to the victim, feelings of confusion, betrayal and guilt may be intensified by the incorrect belief that the victim could have prevented the assault.
• In the long term, victims may experience anxiety, a lack of faith in family, friends, the criminal justice system or religion; suicidal thoughts; depression; and many psycho-physical responses such as sleeping/eating disorders, drug/alcohol abuse, and others.
• Just as the circumstances of every crime differ, every victim responds to his or her own victimization differently. In the immediate aftermath of a traumatic experience such as a crime, a victim may not necessarily be able to think clearly. The following guidelines will help identify steps to take in the aftermath of a victimization.

Find a Safe Place

The most important single act a victim of violent crime can engage in immediately after the crime is getting to a safe place. A victim of crime should find a place where she or he can feel secure and comfortable; such as, a friend's apartment, a resident advisor's room, the local or campus police, or a crowded place.

Seek Medical Attention

Victims injured in a crime should seek immediate medical help. Victims should call an ambulance or have a friend take them to the hospital, campus clinic, or private doctor. Victims should not wait--medical attention will help in their physical healing, and may be useful for evidentiary purposes during any legal action, or during a criminal investigation.

Report the Crime to Authorities

Victims are encouraged to report the crime to authorities for many reasons, including:

• Many crime victim compensation programs (the government agencies that provide financial assistance to victims to aid in their recovery from violent crime) require immediate reporting to police;
• Statistics show that crimes reported sooner, rather than later, have higher arrest rates; and
• Authorities may be able to direct victims to further assistance.

Please note that although all crime victims are encouraged to report the crime, not everyone will feel comfortable entering the criminal justice process. The choice about whether or not to report belongs to the victim. Reporting is not required to receive crisis counseling or medical care.

Depending on the location of the crime (on or off campus), and any special circumstances surrounding the crime, campus crime victims may report an incident or crime to:

• Campus police;
• Local police;
• Resident/hall advisors or, in the case of fraternal organizations, alumni advisors;
• Crisis or counseling centers; and/or
• Victim assistance programs.

Seek Support

Because being a crime victim can be both physically and psychologically traumatic in the short and long term, many victims seek the support of family, friends or professionals throughout their recovery. Professional assistance or referrals to assistance may be available through the following resources:

• Campus/residence hall staff;
• On/off campus crisis centers;
• School counseling services;
• Victim/witness programs;
• Community mental health agencies (check local telephone listings); and/or
• National Center for Victims of Crime's FYI program (800-FYI-CALL).

Financial Recovery

Victims may be able to obtain financial recovery from their victimization through their state victim compensation program. To obtain more information about the type of compensation available, or to obtain the phone number of a particular state's compensation program, contact the local prosecuting attorney, or call the Center's FYI program.

Criminal or Civil Action

Perpetrators may be punished for their crime either with criminal penalties, or by paying civil (monetary) damages. Police will work with prosecuting attorneys to bring about criminal action against perpetrators. For additional information about the criminal justice process, ask for the FYI Bulletin: Civil Remedies for Crime Victims.

Victims have many rights within the criminal justice system. Although those rights differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, victims' rights often include the rights to be informed of and present at critical stages of the criminal justice process, and the right to some amount of input into the trial and/or sentencing. For an explanation of those rights available to you, please contact your local police or your prosecutor's office.

If you have any questions regarding this information, or wish to obtain further FYI Bulletins, please contact the National Center for Victims of Crime at 1-800-FYI-CALL.

College Campus Safety Guidelines and Recommendations

On the Street

• Don't walk alone after dark.
• Be alert! Look around you; be aware of who is on the street and in the area. Make it difficult for anyone to take you by surprise. (Blaring stereos, wearing headphones, radios, etc., make you vulnerable to surprise.)
• Whenever possible, it's a good idea to "dress for safety." Unlike "dressing for success," this means wearing loose-fitting clothing and comfortable shoes that make walking and running easier.
• Stay on populated, well-lighted streets.
• If you think someone is following you, turn around and check; the surprise of a hostile look or aggressive word might change a potential attacker's mind. You can also head for people, lights, traffic, or run and scream. Yelling "fire" may get more results than yelling for "help."
• If a car follows you or stops, change directions; walk or run toward people, stores, or a house if necessary.
• On frequently traveled routes, note the location of emergency telephones or call boxes in public garages and parking lots before you ever need them.
• If you are near a public phone, call the emergency number 911 or your campus police number whenever you feel that you're in danger.
• Take self defense classes.

Outdoors After Dark on Campus

• Always follow well-lighted paths. Stay out of shadows.
• Walk with a group whenever possible.
• Tell a friend or roommate where you are going and when you expect to return. Do not post this information on the outside of your door.
• If you must walk through the campus alone at night, call the University Police and request an escort.
• Avoid isolated places, both day and night. If you must work or study alone on weekends or holidays in offices, labs, or out-of-the-way places, lock the doors and tell a friend and the University Police where you are.
• Park your car in well-lighted areas and as close as possible to your destination.

In an Apartment or House

• Ask local police to conduct a safety check of your home. This service is free.
• Install good locks in doors and windows. Door chains are unsafe, so use deadbolts for greater security.
• Never put personal identification tags on your key ring. Your lost key ring will be of no value to a criminal unless she/he can find the locks that your keys fit.
• Never advertise that you are not at home. Answering machine messages should never include statements like "I'm not at home now..."
• Likewise, never advertise that you are home alone.
• Pull shades or curtains after dark.
• If you let someone in and then have second thoughts, pretend that you are not alone.
• List last name and initials only on mailbox, doors, in the phone book, etc.
• Don't give out information about yourself or make appointments with strangers over the phone.
• Get together with a first-time date, study partner, etc., in a public place.
• Make sure that hallways, entrances, garages, and grounds are well-lighted. Use timers or photo-sensitive devices.
• When away from home at night, or if you expect to return after dark, leave an interior light on in a room or two with the shades drawn.
• Never open the door without first checking to see who is there. Repair persons, salespeople, police, and survey takers carry identification: ask to see it before letting them in. If someone wants to use your phone, offer to make the call while he/she waits outside.
• Leave your spare house key with a friend, not under the doormat, in a flower box, etc.

On a Date

• Acquaintance and date rape occurs more frequently on college campuses than does rape by strangers. A recent survey found that 25% of all female college students surveyed were victims of rape or attempted rape, and that 84% of those raped knew their attackers. In another survey, more than 30% of the male college students admitted to using force or emotional pressure to obtain sex.
• Dates must communicate clearly with each other. Explicit consent should be obtained/granted before sexual activity begins. If an acquaintance or date initiates sexual activity, clearly indicate whether or not you wish this activity to continue. Give or deny consent.

In Residence Halls

• Residence halls are only as safe as the residents make them. Take your share of the responsibility for yourself and others. R.A.'s and residence staff are there to help you if you need them.
• Develop a communication system with a roommate or friend. This can include exchanging information about your class schedules, leaving notes when you must be away unexpectedly, and exchanging emergency phone numbers. Do not post notes for your roommate on the outside of your door.
• Always keep entrance doors to the building locked. If you find a door propped open, close it.
• If you find a residence hall courtesy phone inoperative, immediately notify the University Police.
• If you see a stranger in your residence hall, remember your right to question him/her. Asking "May I help you?" lets him/her know that you've noted his/her presence. This alone is likely to discourage criminal activity. Get additional residents involved in "helping" the stranger.
• If strangers call for their friends, ask them to wait outside while you relay the message. Do not invite them in.
• Always keep your room locked when you are there, especially late at night or when you are sleeping.
• Report malfunctioning locks to your R.A. and the University Police immediately.
• Always lock your room, even if only for a few moments.

The Friendly Stranger

• Many attacks start with casual conversation. The attacker is sizing up the situation to see how easily intimidation can be applied. If you are polite and friendly, the attacker may proceed to intimidate you.
• Although most people would recognize something strange about an encounter long before intimidation would begin, many ignore their intuition because they don't want to be unfriendly or suspicious.
• Trust your instincts! If your gut reaction to a person (stranger or acquaintance) makes you uneasy, get out of the situation as quickly as possible, even it if means being rude, making a scene, or feeling foolish.

In the Car

• Park in well-lighted areas at night. Consider paying for parking. If it is essential to your safety, park wherever necessary.
• Walk to your car with your key ready.
• Check beneath the car and in the back seat before you get in to make sure that no one is hiding there.
• While driving, keep the doors locked at all times so that a person can't jump in at a red light.
• Keep enough gas for emergencies.
• Note the location of telephones so you are familiar with their location before you need them.
• If you are followed by another car, drive to a police or fire station, hospital emergency entrance, or any open business or gas station. Do not go home or to a friend's house. If necessary, call attention to yourself. If your car breaks down far away from help, stay in your car with your doors locked and windows closed. Ask people who stop to call the local police, your automobile club, or a friend or family member. Do not ride with strangers.
• If your car breaks down on campus or you lock your keys inside your car, call the University Police for motorist assistance.
• If your car fails for any reason, wait in your car for police help. Emergency police signal banners and windshield sun shades are available which can be displayed in your rear window to alert other drivers to your need for assistance. These items can be purchased in almost any grocery, auto or drug store. Few potential attackers will approach you if they know that the police have been called. Stay in your car, lock your doors, and wait for safe help.
• Police officers and tow truck drivers carry identification. Do not unlock your car door or exit your vehicle until they show you their identification through the glass of your closed window.

Hitch Hiking

• Hitch hiking is dangerous. We urgently recommend that you Never hitch a ride.

Reprinted with permission of: Towson State University Campus Violence Prevention Center, Towson, MD 21204, 410-830-2178.

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Copyright © 2002 by the National Center for Victims of Crime.  This information may be freely distributed, provided that it is distributed free of charge, in its entirety and includes this copyright notice.