Blumenthal Statement on Swift DOJ Implementation of New Hate Crimes Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a lead sponsor of the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, released the following statement applauding swift Department of Justice implementation of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act:
“Very commendably, the Department of Justice is moving quickly to coordinate community-based resources and guidance – one of the major problems addressed in our bill. Attorney General Garland’s swift implementation of our legislation is especially meaningful as the United States experiences another reprehensible rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes. As Attorney General Garland observed so well during his confirmation hearing, hate crimes tear at the very fabric of our society – making this kind of coordinated response to the surging scourge of hate crimes critically important.”
The Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act – approved as part of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act – would help combat the recent surge in hate crimes by:
Improving Reporting of Hate Crimes: This legislation will improve reporting of hate crimes by supporting the implementation of and training for NIBRS, the latest crime reporting standard, in law enforcement agencies without it. This will allow law enforcement agencies to record and report detailed information about crimes, including hate crimes, to the FBI. In 2019, more than 86 percent of agencies that participate in reporting hate crimes to the FBI reported zero hate crimes. Helping law enforcement agencies recognize and report detailed information on hate crimes and report that data to the FBI will help establish a clear picture of the threats that vulnerable communities are facing across the country.
Encouraging Law Enforcement Prevention, Training and Education on Hate Crimes: This legislation will provide support to law enforcement agencies that establish a policy on identifying, investigating and reporting hate crimes, train officers on how to identify hate crimes, develop a system for collecting hate crimes data, establish a hate crimes unit within the agency, and engage in community relations to address hate crimes in that jurisdiction.
Establishing Hate Crime Hotlines: This legislation will provide grants for states to establish and run hate crime hotlines, to record information about hate crimes and to redirect victims and witnesses to law enforcement and local support services as needed. This will make sure that hate crimes don’t go unreported and victims get the help that they need.
Rehabilitating Perpetrators of Hate Crimes through Education and Community Service: This legislation will allow for judges to require individuals convicted under federal hate crime laws to undergo community service or education centered on the community targeted by the crime.
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