Silent Witness provides anonymous way to report campus crime
By: Amelia Hill
Issue date: 9/18/07 Section: News
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Silent Witness has been used on DePauw's campus for five to six years, but many students seem unaware of the anonymous reporting tool.
Students at DePauw can use Silent Witness to report an offense they have witnessed or they are aware of without becoming involved in the appeals process. To access Silent Witness, students can visit the Public Safety Web site. When filing a Silent Witness Report, the user is required to enter the type of crime, when and where it occurred and the names of possible suspects, if known.
"We won't think information that we have is significant, but at the beginning of the investigation it is," said Angela Nally, associate director of Public Safety.
Anyone reporting incidents have the option to remain anonymous. However, Nally encourages students to provide their name and either phone number or e-mail address for follow up questions. The information given to Nally through Silent Witness is used primarily as a starting point for an investigation.
"No one is going to receive charges solely based off of the silent witness report," she said.
Nally said students use the tool to avoid facing any repercussions from the "bad guys." She also said students often just do not have enough time to go into the Public Safety office and talk with someone about the crime they have witnessed.
There are a wide variety of crimes reported to Public Safety through Silent Witness. Nally said one student reported a TV being stolen from the basement of a dorm with a possible suspect, while other students have used Silent Witness to report greek hazing activities.
Sophomore Bee Phanthao heard about Silent Witness through a friend.
"I reported a wrong-doing on campus," Phanthao said, "and [Silent Witness] was helpful to the extent that I was able to say what I needed to say and be anonymous at the same time."
Silent Witness reports are sent directly to Nally's e-mail account and are checked multiple times during the day. The tool is not only for students on DePauw's campus - it is open for anyone to use on the DePauw University Web site.
Freshman Lana Colvin was one of many students who had never heard of Silent Witness. When informed about its purpose, she said the severity of the crime would determine whether or not she would report it through Silent Witness.
"If it was a small one I'd disregard it, but if it was a big deal and I didn't want to get involved I'd use it," she said.
Nally said she believes Silent Witness has been effective at DePauw.
"It suits the needs of students who want to remain anonymous but report behavior that is happening around campus," she said.
Students at DePauw can use Silent Witness to report an offense they have witnessed or they are aware of without becoming involved in the appeals process. To access Silent Witness, students can visit the Public Safety Web site. When filing a Silent Witness Report, the user is required to enter the type of crime, when and where it occurred and the names of possible suspects, if known.
"We won't think information that we have is significant, but at the beginning of the investigation it is," said Angela Nally, associate director of Public Safety.
Anyone reporting incidents have the option to remain anonymous. However, Nally encourages students to provide their name and either phone number or e-mail address for follow up questions. The information given to Nally through Silent Witness is used primarily as a starting point for an investigation.
"No one is going to receive charges solely based off of the silent witness report," she said.
Nally said students use the tool to avoid facing any repercussions from the "bad guys." She also said students often just do not have enough time to go into the Public Safety office and talk with someone about the crime they have witnessed.
There are a wide variety of crimes reported to Public Safety through Silent Witness. Nally said one student reported a TV being stolen from the basement of a dorm with a possible suspect, while other students have used Silent Witness to report greek hazing activities.
Sophomore Bee Phanthao heard about Silent Witness through a friend.
"I reported a wrong-doing on campus," Phanthao said, "and [Silent Witness] was helpful to the extent that I was able to say what I needed to say and be anonymous at the same time."
Silent Witness reports are sent directly to Nally's e-mail account and are checked multiple times during the day. The tool is not only for students on DePauw's campus - it is open for anyone to use on the DePauw University Web site.
Freshman Lana Colvin was one of many students who had never heard of Silent Witness. When informed about its purpose, she said the severity of the crime would determine whether or not she would report it through Silent Witness.
"If it was a small one I'd disregard it, but if it was a big deal and I didn't want to get involved I'd use it," she said.
Nally said she believes Silent Witness has been effective at DePauw.
"It suits the needs of students who want to remain anonymous but report behavior that is happening around campus," she said.
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