Which action aligns with maintaining victim safety when a report is unfounded?

• A. Provide ongoing emotional support and resources regardless of outcome.
• B. Stop all contact and remove support.
• C. Ignore the survivor's needs.
• D. Push for retraction of the report publicly.

Answer: (A)

Maintaining safety means continuing to support the survivor and connect them with resources even when an investigation doesn’t substantiate the report. The survivor may still face fear, stigma, or risk from the alleged person, and stopping support or demanding actions that expose them publicly can worsen that risk. By providing ongoing emotional support and access to resources—counseling, victim advocacy, safety planning, confidential reporting options, and information about legal or protective measures—you validate the survivor’s experience, help reduce harm, and empower them to make informed decisions about their safety. In contrast, cutting off contact, ignoring needs, or pressuring a public retraction can increase danger, erode trust in the response system, and retraumatize the survivor.