Reporting crimes to the police
There is no requirement that you report a
crime to the police.
This decision is yours as the survivor of a
crime.
There are some good reasons to consider
reporting the hate crime against you to local law enforcement
authorities.
In the eyes of the law, an unreported crime is a
crime that never occurred. Reporting incidents against you may
not only help you feel better, but may also result in the
identification, arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
Hate crime reports can also help the police to identify
patterns of crimes that are targeting the LGBTIQ communities.
If possible, take someone with you when you go
to the police to provide support and to help communicate the
specific details of the crime. Be prepared emotionally for the
possibility of an unsupportive or hostile response by the
police. Despite what some unsympathetic law enforcement
officers may say to you, remember that the crime against you
was NOT your fault.
If you decide to report the crime, here are
some tips:
-
Stress that the crime was motivated by hate
based on perceived sexual orientation. You do not have to
reveal your sexual orientation to report the crime and you
should not be asked to. It is the perpetrator's perception
that matters. Whether or not the perception is correct is
irrelevant under the law.
-
Describe, in detail, the hate or prejudice
that was expressed and what caused you to fear harm.
Examples:
"They approached in a menacing manner,
called me 'Faggot!' in an angry voice, and then threatened to
kill me."
"They drove by us as we walked down the
sidewalk, shouted 'Dykes!' out the window and hurled a beer
bottle at us."
-
If you have any physical pain at all,
insist that it be recorded on the police report. By law, this
is required of the officer, even if you decline medical
attention at the scene.
-
Get the incident number from the responding
officer.
-
Ask how to get a copy of the police report.
-
Get the officer's name and badge number.
For more information:
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