What to Do If You’ve Been The Victim of a Hate Crime

Below are some steps you can take if you have been a victim of a hate crime.

• Get medical help, if necessary.
• Write down any and all of the details of the crime as soon as possible after the incident. Include the perpetrator[s] gender, age, height, race, weight, clothes and other distinguishing characteristics. If any threats or biased comments were made (such as anti-gay epithets), include them in the report.
• File reports.
  • File a police report
    • Get the responding officer’s name and badge number
    • Make sure the officer files an incident report form and assigns a case number. If a police report is not taken at the time of your report, go to the police station and ask for one. Always get your own copy, even of the preliminary report.
    • If you believe the incident was bias-motivated, urge the officer to check the “hate/bias-motivation” or “hate crime/incident” box on the police report.
  • Notify your local LGBTQ+ community organization about the incident
• Find support.
  • Friends and family
  • Get professional help – from a LGBTQ+ affirmative therapist
  • Find resources from the FBI
  • Contact anti-violence support service – such as the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs