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"Preventing Hate and Keeping You Up to Date"
January 2024
The Hate Crimes Training and Technical Assistance Program Newsletter Preventing Hate and Keeping You Up to Date is a monthly summary of research, articles, site highlights, and more. This publication is provided for program awardees' and project partners' information and awareness. Please contact info@hatecrimestta.org to submit a success story or resource for consideration in the newsletter.
General News
Global Extremist Symbols Database
Published by the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, this database contains a compilation of global hate and extremist symbols. Extremist groups collaborate with each other, sharing hateful narratives, tactical playbooks, and symbols to represent their causes. This database is a tool for identifying the whereabouts, narratives, and violent acts of these extremist groups and is intended to be used by law enforcement, tech companies, policymakers, media, advocates, and the general public. Various information is listed regarding each symbol in the directory, including photos, descriptions, associated ideologies, and the location(s) where the symbol was found. So far, the database contains symbols from more than 40 countries and more than 20 associated ideologies. It should be noted that this database does not contain a comprehensive list since new extremist groups are constantly emerging.
New York State Courts Enhance Anti-Bias Training Amid Rise in Hate Crimes
Citing a marked rise in anti-Semitism, the New York State Unified Court System announced an introduction of new training components focused on combating bias and discrimination for 15,000 court system personnel. The initiative is part of their ongoing commitment to ensure an environment free of hate and discrimination for all court system employees and users. The seminars reinforce the judiciary’s mission of delivering equal justice and fair resolutions in all court proceedings.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), chaired by Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, has approved $19 million in grant funding. This includes $5 million for over 90 local nonprofits vulnerable to hate crimes and over $1 million for 20 law enforcement agencies to aid in recruitment. The grant supports safety and security planning and training, safety and security equipment and technology, security upgrades to structures, and vulnerability or threat assessments. The commission also supports other initiatives for community safety and related issues.
Akron Police Implement Safe Place Program to Help Victims of Hate Crimes
Akron, Ohio, officials introduced the Safe Place Program to assist victims of hate crimes. This initiative aims to build trust between the police and the public. Participating businesses in Akron will provide a safe space for hate crime victims, and they are required to call 9-1-1 and offer shelter until the police arrive. These businesses will display a recognizable decal on their storefront. The program is open to all organizations and businesses within Akron city limits, with free training provided to staff. The goal is to promote Akron as an inclusive and welcoming city. The program started in Seattle, Washington, in 2015 and has been adopted by 345 law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada.
Site Highlights
Multnomah County DA Mike Schmidt Secures $300K in Funding for Dedicated Bias Crimes Investigator
The Multnomah County, Oregon, District Attorney’s Office secured a $300,000 federal supplemental grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program to fund a dedicated bias crime investigator. The county previously received a $400,000 grant for a bias crime prosecutor in ongoing efforts to identify and prosecute hate crimes.
The Broward State Attorney’s Office in Florida hosted a community meeting on hate crimes at Hollywood City Hall to educate residents on what qualifies as a hate crime, how to report hate crimes or incidents, and how the Broward County Hate Crime Unit pursues it. A recording of the session is available online (to view the meeting, please skip to 16:06 in the recording, where the presentation begins).
Unsolved Hate Crimes in Chicago Surge, City Council Votes to Change Reporting System
Hate crime reports in Chicago, Illinois, have surged, but data from the Chicago Police Department shows that most cases remain unsolved. Chicago’s City Council has shifted hate crime reporting to non-emergency number 3-1-1, aiming to streamline reporting. The non-emergency 3-1-1 line offers 100 languages and allows for a police or civilian response. However, concerns have been expressed that this may lead to a further decline in hate crime resolution rates.
Special Interest
Year After Year, Most Texas Police Departments Report Zero Hate Crimes. Here’s Why.
This article highlights the challenges in reporting and prosecuting hate crimes in Texas. In 2022, 868 law enforcement agencies in Texas reported no hate crimes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. An investigation by the Texas Tribune found that despite existing hate crime laws, many Texas law enforcement agencies fail to report or prosecute such crimes, resulting in a lack of comprehensive data and hindering prevention and intervention efforts. Advocates emphasize the need for better data collection to address rising hate crimes against various communities.
Are These Things Antisemitic? L.A. Jews Tell Us
The Los Angeles Times gathered a panel of Jewish thinkers to explore and to define anti-Semitism in situational context. The panel offered unique perspectives on the experiences of Jewish individuals in America.
Portland Police Request Public Comment for Policies on Body Cameras, Bias Crime Reporting
The Portland, Oregon, Police Bureau (PPB) invites public comment on revisions to its policy and procedure manual directives using a multi-phase approach to obtain the public’s feedback and input on PPB directives. The first review period covers unrevised policies, including body-worn camera use and bias crime reporting. The second review period includes revised drafts open for public comment, covering areas such as timekeeping, bias crime reporting, and community observation of police. Feedback is submitted through web forms and considered for inclusion in final versions.
Curriculum Brings “Not in Our Town” History to Classrooms Across Montana
A curriculum inspired by the "Not in Our Town" movement, which began in response to a hate crime in Billings, Montana, in 1993, is being brought to classrooms across the state. The Montana Jewish Project is sharing curriculum packs upon the school’s requests that include the story of the Christmas Menorah and items such as menorahs, candles, a dreidel, and a gilt to help students learn about Jewish culture. The initiative aims to promote understanding, respect, and unity through education and outreach.
Click here to view the Not in Our Town: Billings, Montana video.
The Standard Sentence for Most Hate Crimes in Oregon? Probation, Not Jail Time.
The Oregonian/OregonLive review of hate crime cases from the past decade revealed that numerous people convicted of committing a hate crime did not face jail time, even in some extreme encounters where defendants beat victims; chased them with knives, metal pipes, crowbars, and sticks; or threatened to shoot them with guns. This leniency contrasts with Oregon’s narrower definition of hate crime, despite the state’s lead in supporting victims through a statewide reporting hotline and mandated paid leave.
Law Enforcement Survey Request—Help Us Help You
National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Trauma-Informed Policing Center
In an effort to develop a robust and responsive training and technical assistance program, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Trauma-Informed Policing (TIP) Center, is conducting a national survey of law enforcement professionals.
We invite you to participate in this brief online survey so that we can better understand your overall interest in co-response and assess national training needs related to child trauma exposure, including domestic violence, abuse, neglect, trafficking, and mental health.
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NationalLESurvey
Your feedback is extremely important to us and will be kept strictly confidential. Your responses will not be shared with your law enforcement agency or any other entity. The survey should take no longer than 15 minutes of your time.
If you are interested in hearing more about the TIP Center, please provide your contact information at the end of the survey. Your contact information will be kept separate from your survey response.
Thank you in advance for sharing your valuable feedback!
This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA-21-GK-02977-HATE awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART).
Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
