The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee) today released an Action Agenda for Enhancing the Response to Hate Crimes. The IACP and Lawyers’ Committee encourage all stakeholders to use the action agenda as guidance for responding to and working toward preventing hate crimes. The action agenda, once implemented, will help enhance the ability of law enforcement, civil rights organizations, and community organizations to more effectively address hate and bias-motivated crimes in their communities and try to ensure the safety of all individuals threatened by hate. For more information and to access the action agenda, visit www.theiacp.org/response-to-hate-crime and www.lawyerscommittee.org/enhance-the-response-to-hate-crimes/. 

The action agenda, developed by law enforcement leaders, civil rights advocates, and academia, has three categories of action items: 

• Actions that community leaders, civil rights organizations, and law enforcement should take together to address these critical issues  

• Actions that community and civil rights organizations should take to proactively engage law enforcement in combating hate 

• Actions that law enforcement should take to effectively engage with vulnerable communities  

The goal of these action items is to help break down barriers and strengthen trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve to enhance the prevention, reporting, investigation, and successful prosecution of hate crimes. 

“By joining forces, we hope to assist agencies and community leaders in effectively responding to hate crimes, providing resources, and developing solutions to prevent these incidents,” said Paul M. Cell, President of the IACP. “I believe the IACP and Lawyers’ Committee have provided unique expertise to establish an achievable action agenda that will help stakeholders respond effectively to these crimes, improve the well-being of targeted communities, and enhance the quality of overall community-police relations.” 

“Hate crimes are tearing away at the fabric of American democracy.” said Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee. “To fully and effectively confront hate crimes, we must bring together stakeholders to build consensus around a strategy for combatting hate. We are pleased to partner with the IACP to bring together law enforcement and civil rights communities to have a critical dialogue to ensure the needs of targeted communities are addressed. In releasing our Action Agenda for Enhancing the Response to Hate Crimes with the IACP, we are confident that with proper implementation, this action agenda will reduce hate and make communities safer across the country.” 

About International Association of Chiefs of Police 

About Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law 

About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Stop Hate Project