Victims ignored & unprotected
Reporting harm should not lead to disbelief, abandonment, or greater danger
Victims can be failed when reports are dismissed, evidence is not collected, safety risks are minimized, protective orders are not enforced, notifications are missed, services are inaccessible, or officials retaliate against persistent requests for help. Legal duties and available remedies vary, and no system can guarantee safety, but respectful response and accurate process matter.
What failure can look like
- Repeated reports closed or downgraded without documented investigation or risk assessment
- Evidence, injuries, threats, stalking patterns, protective orders, or escalating danger not recorded or communicated
- A victim excluded from required notice, interpretation, accommodations, compensation, advocacy, or case information
Protect the record
Preserve reports, incident numbers, recordings or messages, photographs, medical records, protection orders, service attempts, risk assessments, victim-notification records, names, dates, and requests for help. Prioritize immediate safety and contact a qualified victim advocate or attorney about local options.