HATE CRIMES

Share

Hate has no place in our city. Amidst national crises that have exacerbated bias and discrimination, hate crimes nationwide have risen over the past year to the highest level in over a decade, with more hate-motivated killings than any year in recorded history. The trauma of hate crimes victimizes entire communities; rooting out that hate is critical to the city’s recovery. Lucy will ensure that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office makes addressing hate crimes a priority, and focuses on rebuilding the city premised on the values of dignity and tolerance.

To fight hate crime, Lucy will:

  • Designate hate crimes leadership whose sole responsibility is supervising and handling only hate crimes cases. Hate crimes deserve the full attention of attorneys assigned to address them, and those who investigate and prosecute such crimes need the capacity and resources to focus on them exclusively. Under Lucy, hate crimes leadership will be dedicated to investigating such cases full-time, with the support of experienced ADAs and robust investigational resources.

  • Break the cycle of hate by responding seriously to every hate crime without sacrificing core values. Being serious about hate crimes cases doesn’t mean abandoning the principles of using jail and prison as a last resort. With the consent of victims, the District Attorney’s Office will consider responsive sentencing, including restorative justice, as possible resolutions in appropriate cases.

  • Communicate transparently and broadly with the public to encourage reporting and make reporting accessible to everyone regardless of language barriers and mental or physical challenges. Hate crimes by their very nature often target members of vulnerable populations who distrust police and the District Attorney’s office. Understandably, victims of these crimes are often disinclined towards reporting. Lucy will meet directly with members of vulnerable communities and organizations that represent them on a consistent basis. Lucy pledges to be accessible and responsive to the needs and concerns of these community members and will train all Office staff to be sensitive to and respectful of their experiences and concerns. She will advertise the Hate Crimes Unit and its reporting mechanisms broadly in community meetings and across media and social media platforms in multiple languages to encourage reporting of hate crimes.

  • Include trauma-informed cultural humility training for all ADAs who handle hate crimes. Survivors of hate crimes can come from marginalized communities that require a survivor-centered approach and supportive services to encourage their cooperation with the District Attorney’s Office. All lawyers and staff who work with these communities will be trained to facilitate a procedurally just experience for hate crime survivors.

  • Collaborate with the Mayor’s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes to directly engage with impacted communities. The DA’s obligation to our communities starts before crime happens, and Lucy is committed to working with other city bureaus and officials to support educational and other efforts to stop hate crime before it occurs. That includes using the resources of the DA’s Office to create citywide partnerships with our communities.

  • Take all allegations of hate crimes seriously. Historically, hate crimes have been considered particularly difficult to prosecute and prove. But difficulty cannot be a bar to justice. The District Attorney’s Office will take every hate crime allegation seriously and investigate every case thoroughly. Lucy will treat hate crimes as hate crimes.