Responding to Hate Crimes and Bias-Motivated Incidents on College/University Campuses

Abstract

The Community Relations Service (CRS), an arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, brought together representatives from college campus law enforcement, college administrators, students, academicians, and civil rights organizations to discuss how different campuses are handling hate crimes in areas including crime investigation, victim assistance, media relations, and community healing. This guide, a product of those discussions, highlights case studies and some of the best practices regarding these hateful acts. A hate crime is generally defined as a crime which is motivated by the offender's bias toward the victim's race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, or disability. Universities should have a hate crime policy and procedural administration and law enforcement protocol in place, and they should cooperate with the CRS to provide mediation and reconciliation services. Reporting procedures should be established to make reporting as easy as possible, including the possibility of accepting confidential reports. Support should be made available to all victims of an incident whether they were directly or indirectly involved. A media policy should also be in place to allow the university to provide accurate and timely information about the episode to the community. Finally, campuses should remember that they are part of the broader community in which they are located. They should unite with other local colleges and their community neighbors against intolerance. Listings of National Civil Rights Organizations with hate crime resources and CRS headquarters, regional and field offices are included. (EMS)