SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office says new grant money will help him train police and prosecutors all across the state about what hate crime looks like.
On Friday, Raoul’s office announced receipt of a grant it says will help Illinois police and prosecutors better understand the nature of hate crime.
The Department of Justice grant totals nearly $395,000.
Raoul’s office says it will go toward a four year project to provide “specialized hate crime training” to law enforcement officers and prosecuting attorneys in Illinois.
Raoul says this grant, which was awarded through the DOJ’s Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program, will support his office’s efforts to increase the reporting of hate crimes.
He says it will also, “improve the criminal justice systemm’s response to hate crime victims.”
According to a release issued Friday, training topics in the program will include the specifics of the state and federal hate crimes statutes as well as “the effects of trauma on victims” and the importance of relationships in the community helping aid in the identification of hate crime.
A statement goes on to say Raoul’s office will, “develop and conduct the training programs in partnership with community-based organizations, law enforcement, prosecutors, national experts and other partners.”
Raoul says he intends to design and roll out the training programs over the next year or so.
He says the programs will be made available in online or video format with a more “intensive” curriculum provided at in-person training for field officers and investigators.
Please visit the Attorney General’s website to access resources related to hate crimes or to contact the office’s Civil Rights Bureau.
