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
• 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").