Party Smart Campaign

Text Hotline: (725) 900-2640

What is Party Smart?

Party Smart is a violence prevention campaign aimed at making nightlife in Las Vegas safer for everyone. We believe that we can prevent sexual violence by encouraging both party-goers and bar/nightclub staff to help others stay safe. Learn about the Party Smart Promise to Arrive Together, Stick Together, and Leave Together and use it to keep yourself and your group safe.

How Does Party Smart Work?

Party Smart has two parts. Part 1 is a public awareness campaign that encourages party-goers to prevent sexual violence by being Active Bystanders. Part 2 is a training program for employees of bars, nightclubs, and other alcohol-serving establishments which gives them specific strategies to increase safety for their patrons. Interested in training for your nightlife staff?

Why Party Smart?

Party Smart was created by Signs of HOPE and our partners in response to a need we saw within the community.

We know that:

Women 18 to 24 experience the highest rates of sexual violence.

At least 20% of victims Signs of HOPE serves at UMC Hospital are assaulted at a party situation or alcohol-serving establishment OR met their perpetrator in such a setting.

A certain subset of sexual predators specifically use party situations or alcohol-serving establishments to find victims and often use alcohol or drugs to victimize.

Given these facts, we knew there was a great need for targeted violence prevention. As a result, we created Party Smart to make nightlife in Las Vegas safer.

Active Bystander

An Active Bystander is someone who steps in or gets help before, during, or after they see or hear violence. Active Bystander Intervention takes the responsibility of preventing violence off of the potential victim and puts it onto the community as a whole. The emphasis, instead of being on victims and what they are doing “right” or “wrong” to protect themselves, is on the community as a whole refusing to tolerate violence or the behaviors that promote violence. By giving our community the tools to recognize predatory behavior and the skills to respond to it, we empower everyone to identify perpetrators and hold them accountable. Bystanders who choose to take action to help others are the strongest force for preventing violence. Watch the video below from PLEA Community Services of BC for tips on how to be an Active Bystander.

Know How to Respond

If you see a red flag, there are lots of different ways you can help. You can decide on your strategy based on what you feel comfortable with.

Always protect your own safety first. You can…

Delegate

• Ask your friends if they notice something wrong too, and what they think can be done.

• Ask the bartender or wait staff to check on the situation.

• Let security know something is up and someone needs help.

Distract

• “Accidentally” spill a drink.

• Start chatting with the perpetrator so someone else can check in with the target.

• Invite the target onto the dance floor to get them away from the perpetrator.

Direct

• Ask the target if they are okay and if they need help.

• Call out the perpetrator for being creepy.

• Offer to call a cab for an intoxicated target.

*Remember, an Active Bystander never uses violence or threats of violence to help someone

What is a perpetrator and who can be one?

Anyone can be a perpetrator, regardless of sex, gender, age, race/ethnicity, income status, and/or social status.

Top Tactics of Predators

Pushing Boundaries

• Stranger that approaches overly being overly aggressive/familiar; Violates personal space; Lots of touching.

• Subject tries to buy someone else a drink and they send it back, but the person keeps trying.

• REMEMBER: People who won’t take “no” for an answer in the club/party, won’t take “no” for an answer outside of it.

Isolating A Target

• Someone trying to lure someone away from their group.

• Someone encouraging a group to leave their friend behind.

• Rule of Thumb: If someone is intoxicated enough that you wouldn’t let them drive home, don’t let them stay with someone they just met.

Strategically Using Alcohol & Drugs

• Goes “60 to 0” within a matter of minutes.

• Subject buying drinks for others while nursing theirs.

• The most common “date rape” drug is alcohol.

• Someone quite sober is leaving the club with someone very intoxicated.

Sticking Together

Follow the Party Smart Promise and use it to keep yourself and others safe where ever and when ever you go out!

1) Arrive Together

2) Stick Together

3) Leave Together

Arrive Together –
Before You Go Out:

• Choose a friend or group of friends to go with.

• Make a plan for where you’re going and who you’re meeting.

• Decide how everyone will get home. Have a backup plan in case of emergency.

• Choose a code word or signal to let each other know when something isn’t right.

• Let a trusted person know where you will be.

• Charge your phone.

Download Circle of 6

Stick Together –
While You’re There:

• Keep an eye on your group. Check in with each other throughout the night to make sure everyone is feeling good and having fun.

• Always get your own drink and keep an eye on it at all times.

• Never leave a drink unattended.

• Be an Active Bystander

Leave Together –
When the Party is Over:

• Never leave a member of your group behind. Remember: No “buddy” left behind.

• Don’t let an intoxicated friend go home with a stranger. If you wouldn’t let your friend drive drunk, don’t let them leave with a stranger drunk.

• Check in to make sure everyone got home safe. If you can’t reach one of your group members, get help.

• If someone at the party/bar/club behaved in a way that made you or others feel uncomfortable or unsafe, talk about it. Support others who bring up these issues.

Helping A Victim

You can still be an Active Bystander and make a difference even after violence happens. Here are some ways that you can support a victim of sexual violence in getting the help they need.

If Someone Discloses to You

If someone comes to you to tell you that they have been sexually assaulted here are some important tips for how to help them:

DO Believe Them

Fear of not being believed is a big reason many survivors never tell, and your support can help someone heal.

DON’T Blame Them

No matter what the person was wearing or doing, sexual assault is NEVER their fault. Sexual assault is a choice that the perpetrator makes.

DON’T Try To Rescue Them Or Pressure Them

A survivor of sexual assault has had all of their power taken away by the perpetrator. An important step to healing is to be empowered to take control again. So, don’t try to take over or pressure them into doing anything before they are ready.

DO Support Their Decisions

You can empower a survivor simply by supporting their decisions during their healing process.

DO Help Them Find Resources

You can help a survivor by searching for resources and letting them know what’s available. Signs of HOPE is a resource that provides free wrap-around services for our clients and their families.

Options For Victims

Someone who has been sexually assaulted in our city has several different options:

Contact Signs of HOPE: Call our hotline 24/7 at 702-366-1640 to speak to an advocate and get resources and support. Services at Signs of HOPE are confidential, can be used even if the victim chooses not to make a report to police, and can be accessed at any time no matter how recent or long ago an assault was.

Go to UMC Hospital: if the assault happened within the last 5 days, victims can go to UMC hospital for a SANE exam (also known as a rape kit). This exam can be done with a report to the police the same day, or with the option to have the kit held up to 20 years before deciding to make a police report. Victims may also skip the kit and only receive medical care following an assault. If the victim chooses, an advocate from Signs of HOPE can see them at the hospital. Learn more about getting an exam at UMC hospital here.

UMC Hospital: 1800 W. Charleston, Las Vegas, NV 89102

 

Report to Police: there are many reasons why a victim might not want to report an assault to the police, but some victims may feel ready to report right away. If a victim does choose to report right away, police can even provide transportation to UMC hospital (in such situations, call 911). Otherwise, a report can be made by calling the following:

Take The Pledge

I Pledge to keep the Party Smart Promise to Arrive Together, Stick Together, and Leave Together

Optionally: Upload your photo linking arms with your friends, family, and/or coworkers and share on our website or social media to show your commitment to sticking together while at nightlife scenes.

I Pledge To Be An Active Bystander

I have watched the Active Bystander webinar on the Party Smart website and will use this training to intervene when someone is victimized.

I Pledge to Learn the Safety Tips to Follow While at Venues and Hotels

Sexual violence can happen anywhere, but there are hot spots such as bars, clubs, and venues that perpetrators target. By knowing the safety tips before arriving at a venue, you can prepare yourself and your group with how to avoid unsafe scenarios and what to do if things go wrong.

I Pledge to Learn About Drug Safety

Drugs are often used as both a weapon against victims as well as a tool sexual violence survivors use to try to escape their trauma. Be aware of the signs of a drug-facilitated assault. Learn about drug abuse prevention, Naloxone/Narcan, and resources for substance abusers.

I Pledge to Increase Awareness in my Community on Services and Resources Available for Survivors of Sexual Abuse

There are many resources such as counseling, support groups, and legal aid to help survivors heal from their trauma. Knowing and spreading awareness of these services can help connect survivors with the support they need to empower themselves.

Complete Your Pledge Using the Form Below

Fields marked with an * are required

Campaign In Motion

Entertainment settings are hot spots for sexual violence and criminal activity which is why Signs of HOPE focuses the Party Smart campaign on the following initiatives. See how YOU, our partner community members and organizations, have made an impact in your community!

Community Members

Thank you to all of you who have taken the pledge to Party Smart and intervene to prevent sexual violence! Whether you learned about the campaign through interacting with Signs of HOPE at an event, found our website, or saw one of our posters and took action, we appreciate your empathy and dedication to this work. Here’s to you!

Clubs/Bars

Signs of HOPE is proud to partner with dozens of bars and clubs throughout Las Vegas and Henderson through our StaySAFE trainings. Thank you to all of the security, food and beverage, and other hospitality staff for your dedication to sexual violence prevention.

Campuses

Signs of HOPE is proud to partner with college campuses, RSOs, Greek Life, and students throughout Southern Nevada. Through partnerships with UNLV CARE Center, Northwest Career College, Title IX, and more, students and faculty have increasing access to the training, services, and resources they need.

Sports/Entertainment

Sexual violence occurs in all sports and at all levels of professionalism. Perpetrators also use large entertainment venues such as stadiums and concert halls to target victims in the midst of the large crowds and confusion. Sports and entertainment venues, athletes, and staff play an integral role in the prevention of sexual abuse internally as well as at their facilities.

Hotels

Tourism is the number 1 industry in Las Vegas so the protection of guests staying in our hotels for their vacations is one of our top priorities. Thank you to all of the amazing hotels who ensure your staff are prepared with the tools to help keep guests safe.

Community Resources

Sexual Abuse or Assault Assistance and Support:

Law Enforcement

  • If you need to report an assault in progress, or are injured after an assault and need an ambulance, please call EMERGENCY 9-1-1.
  • If you have been the victim of an assault and need to report it to the police, but you are not actively in danger or injured at the time of the call, please call NON-EMERGENCY 3-1-1.
  • Please note that the crime will be investigated by the jurisdiction and law enforcement authority for where the assault took place, NOT where the victim lives, if the two are different. It is important you let law enforcement know this as soon as possible. For example, if you live in Henderson, but were assaulted at a party in Las Vegas, The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department would investigate the crime.

Other Important Community Numbers:

Domestic Violence

Suicide

Victim Assistance

Protection Orders

Spanish Resources

Become A Partner

Is your organization, business, or establishment ready to take our sexual violence prevention training? You can become a Party Smart Partner by fulfilling these requirements.

Requirements

Staff Training: Signs of HOPE will provide free training for your staff members. All staff must attend training once a year to maintain status as a Party Smart Partner. Staff who complete training will also be required to complete a brief survey to help us ensure the effectiveness of the training. Training options are:

  • StaySAFE: Signs of HOPE has partnered with LVMPD to offer FREE trainings for security, food and beverage, and other hospitality professionals on how to recognize predatory behavior and vulnerable individuals in club, hotel and casinos environments, and intervene to prevent sexual violence before it happens. These trainings are provided at flexible times to be available to professionals working any shift.

  • SAINT: Teaches non-security staff how to recognize predatory behavior and vulnerable individuals and intervene to prevent sexual violence before it happens.

Policies and procedures: Develop an organization-wide policy on handling disclosures of sexual assault. Signs of HOPE can provide a free information session for management and owners to learn help develop these policies.

Post Signs of HOPE or Party Smart information in establishment: SOH will provide materials OR provide the Party Smart logo to be placed on materials of the establishment’s design. We recommend placing these materials or making the Signs of HOPE hotline number visible in at least 2 locations with easy access for patrons and employees.

Optional

Participate in Party Smart social media campaigns by sharing Party Smart messaging on your social media platforms at designated times throughout the year, such as New Year’s Eve, Spring Break, and Memorial Day Weekend

If you have questions about taking action to prevent sexual violence at your establishment, contact Signs of HOPE at 702-366-1640

Ready to Become a Party Smart Partner? Request Your Training Today

Current Partners