Report 2017-131 Recommendation 2 Responses

Report 2017-131: Hate Crimes in California: Law Enforcement Has Not Adequately Identified, Reported, or Responded to Hate Crimes (Release Date: May 2018)

Recommendation #2 To: Justice, Department of

To ensure that all state law enforcement agencies are aware of the support available to help them investigate hate crimes, DOJ should engage in outreach efforts to increase awareness of its response team.

60-Day Agency Response

On May 31, 2018, DOJ released several significant resources to assist law enforcement agencies in investigating and responding to hate crimes. These resources included updated protocols for DOJ's Hate Crime Rapid Response Team to assist law enforcement with significant hate crimes.

DOJ also released an information bulletin for law enforcement agencies summarizing criminal and civil laws that prohibit hate crimes and/or provide enhanced penalties. Additional resources included a new brochure with information on how to identify and report hate crimes and the services available to victims. The brochure is available in nine languages, with an additional four languages available soon. The brochures can be downloaded, printed and shared.

Additionally, DOJ launched a new Hate Crimes Prevention Webpage, which includes the previously mentioned resources along with guidance and a model policy framework from the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to assist law enforcement in identifying and handling hate crimes and to help ensure accurate and timely reporting.

DOJ conducted statewide outreach to law enforcement on these resources, including posting the information on the California Law Enforcement Website (CLEW) and DOJ's website, through a broadly disseminated media release, and email distribution to statewide law enforcement associations such as California Police Chiefs Association, the California State Sheriffs' Association, the California District Attorneys Association, and others.

To further increase awareness of available resources, DOJ will be providing additional periodic outreach and training. Collaboration is underway with the FBI to host hate crime specific training to reporting agencies.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Fully Implemented

We reviewed the information bulletin that DOJ released to state and local law enforcement agencies and found that it provided information regarding when and how the team could be deployed. We also found that DOJ created a website regarding hate crimes as a resource for law enforcement and citizens, and it included links to the response team's protocol.

All Recommendations in 2017-131

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.