Bystander Intervention

Bystander Intervention: Means safe and positive options that may be carried out by an individual or individuals to prevent violence, promote safety, and reduce incidents. 

Bystander intervention includes:

Recognizing situations of potential harm

Understanding institutional structures and cultural conditions that facilitate violence,

Overcoming barriers to intervening,

Identifying safe and effective intervention options, and

Taking actions to intervene

If you witness a policy violation, or behaviors that may lead to a policy violation, there are a variety of things you can do as a bystander:

Divert the intended victim (e.g. "help me out of here; I don't feel well")

Distract the alleged offender (e.g. "looks like your car is being towed")

Confront the alleged offender (e.g. "don't speak to him or her in that manner")