The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Fight Hate: Rapid Response Checklist

Police

• Was law enforcement's arrival at the scene timely?
• Were the victims immediately protected and property damage mitigated?
• Did the police provide support to the victim while taking a report or initiating an investigation?
• Did law enforcement assail the perpetrator?
• Were witnesses identified and interviewed?
• Was the victim interviewed?
• If the media was present, did the police provide a communications specialist to report the facts?

Victim Care

• Was the victim's immediate safety addressed?
• Was a victim services professional present? Was there a caring neighbor or advocate on site to comfort the victim immediately after the incident?
• If intergroup tensions occurred, were efforts made to mediate or resolve the conflict?
• Did community leaders respond swiftly in seeking a solution to the tensions or addressing the situation?
• Was a case worker assigned to follow up with the victim to ensure safety and help with logistics (e.g., making repairs, filing insurance claims)?
• If applicable, was a concerted effort made to convince the victim to stay in the community?
• If applicable, was alternative or interim housing secured for the victim?
• Did a network member, advocate, or neighbor visit the victim on the day and week after the incident?
• Did the network develop and implement a long-term plan for victim follow-up-in 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months?

Legal

• Did the network or other organization coordinate legal assistance for the victim and follow up?
• Were the attorneys or legal advocates aware of Fair Housing Act provisions regarding the offense? Were these provisions explained to the victim?
• Did the victim pursue a fair housing complaint?
• Did the victim receive satisfactory recourse through the legal or administrative system?
• Was the victim interviewed about his or her treatment throughout the legal process?
• Did someone follow up with the legal system to ensure the case was being actively and fairly pursued?

Counseling and Mediation

• Were mediators/counselors available to the community, the victim and, if appropriate, the perpetrator?
• If tension occurred, did leaders from both sides try to find a way to resolve the dispute and prevent further tensions from flaring?
• Did the schools and the media use the incident as a teachable moment through sensitized programming?
• Did the community unite through efforts such as an art project or diversity fair to promote healing?
• Did the network coordinate with schools, elected officials, clergy, the housing industry, and community groups to work with their constituents and clients to sort through responses to the incident and implement long-term preventive programs?

Media

• Did the media know about the incident? If not, why? If so, how?
• Did the media's coverage seem sensitive, accurate, and promote reconciliation?
• Was the reporter knowledgeable about fair housing and community tensions?
• Did the media cover the incident factually and highlight the community's ongoing proactive efforts to prevent housing-related hate crimes?
• Did the media offer to donate airtime for a positive, healing public service message?

Public Communication

• Did key public leaders (elected officials, clergy, school, housing industry) know about the incident?
• Did the network representative or some other party communicate the facts of the incident to the media?
• Did the representative work with officials to craft a proactive and assertive public response, as appropriate, to the incident? What specifically did this public response achieve?