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Re: ما بين لوس أنجلس 96 والخرطوم2005! (Re: saadeldin abdelrahman)
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Quote: Purpose: To review the adequacy of existing policies and procedures on hate crimes enforcement; To provide additional training for Department personnel who investigate hate crimes; To improve the quality of preliminary and follow up investigations; To increase accuracy in data capture of hate crimes and hate incidents; and To provide public education and information to community and business.
Overview: Hate crimes are acts and threats of violence perpetrated against persons because of their membership or perceived membership in a protected group. Such crimes are prompted by a range of motivations from discriminatory ideologies to spur of the moment irrational outbursts. Hate crimes pose an egregious threat to both the intended victim and to the community at large because of the physical and psychological reverberations.
Numerous factors combine to render prejudice-motivated crimes particularly reprehensible. Hate crimes involve a "double wrong". The perpetrator(s) not only commits a criminal act but also engages in a wrongful act of discrimination. Crimes motivated by a prejudicial hostility can result in substantially more severe injuries. Finally, crimes directed against victims because of their immutable characteristics have wide-reaching social implications and consequences. The effect of hate crimes reach far beyond the immediate injuries to the victim, they traumatize the victim's community and subsequently, society at large.
Hate crimes continue to be a serious issue in Los Angeles County. Due in part to improved reporting procedures, the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission (LACHRC) document 995 and 820 hate crimes in Los Angeles County in 1996 and 1997, the second largest number of hate crimes in the nation. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office's zero tolerance of hate crimes has resulted in a dramatic increase in hate crime prosecutions totaling 225 in 1997 compared to 39 in the preceding year. Over half of these were committed by juveniles. The number of reported hate crimes remains unacceptably high.
The burgeoning growth in populations of racial minorities and changing demographics in Los Angeles have resulted in a documented increase of racial hate crimes in Los Angeles County, according to the LACHRC. The need for the revised Special Order and implementation of the following recommendations are necessary to reduce both the incidence and fear of hate crimes in Los Angeles.
Accomplishments to Date: The Hate Crimes Task force has had six principal accomplishments to date: Redrafted the Special Order on hate crimes. This Special Order to be issued by Chief Bernard C. Parks will put the Los Angeles Police Department in the forefront in the nation on the prevention and enforcement of hate crimes. It establishes responsibility and accountability for hate crime investigation at a very high level at each station. Developed new and updated existing training materials related to hate crimes. Developed a notebook divider for investigation of hate crimes and incidents to be used by Department Personnel. Developed the procedures to be used in the field in investigating potential hate crimes. Revised procedures to be used in the reporting, documentation and maintenance of statistical data as it relates to both hate crimes and incidents. Many hate crimes in the County that are felonies are reported as misdemeanors. Moreover, many hate crimes that can only be prosecuted as misdemeanors at the state level can be prosecuted as felonies at the federal level. Therefore we have revised the procedures to be used in the filing of hate crimes with the District Attorney's Office and have a mandatory forwarding process for review with the U.S. Attorney's and Los Angeles City Attorney's offices. Revised the Los Angeles hate crimes brochure, with input and collaboration from the L.A. City and County Human Relations Commissions.
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