But Someone Was Right There: Bystander Influence on Sexual Assault Victim Reports to Police and Help-Seeking Behaviors among College Students

• In Event: Predictors of Bystander Intervention

Abstract

Bystander intervention campaigns educate students about intervening in “red dot” situations. Intervention offers the potential of increased safety, but also the possibility of greater victim empowerment which raises important questions. First, does bystander presence, and importantly intervention, influence sexual assault victim reporting/help-seeking behaviors? Does this relationship differ for non-college students? To address these important questions, NCVS data are used, and insight for policies and programming for college campuses related to bystander intervention models is provided.

Authors

• Hailey Powers, University of Colorado Denver

• Callie Marie Rennison, University of Colorado Denver