NCJ Number
211591
Date Published
May 2000
Length
130 pages
Annotation
These guidelines for the design of hate-crime policy and training for California law enforcement agencies feature relevant laws, sample agency policies, mandated agency public information brochures, statewide and local resources, a training curriculum, and mandated hate-crime reporting procedures.
Abstract
One of the core principles of these guidelines is that an agency's hate-crime policy and programs should minimally include training, prevention, response, contingency, and reporting. These elements should be community-based and multiagency-based. A second core principle is that the guidelines should receive department-wide application and reflect value-driven, "top-down" processes. The third core principle is that the guidelines assist local agency executives and their training coordinators in the development and delivery of related training. A fourth core principle is that accurate crime reporting systems will be best implemented when they are based on the application of these guidelines. The fifth core principle is that the guidelines are consistent with the principles that shape the POST (Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training) Human Relations Training Program for the Basic Academy and ongoing in-service training. The nine guidelines are presented, followed by an expanded outline for a training course. The seven appendixes present definitions of hate-crime terminology, criminal and civil laws that pertain to hate crime, hate-crime resources, a sample framework for developing departmental hate-crime policy and procedures, sample policies and information, sample public information brochures, California Department of Justice reporting requirements, and historical legislation.