Policing Hate Crimes:
Building Strong Cases for Successful Prosecution

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

The "Policing Hate Crimes: Building Strong Cases for Successful Prosecution" seminar was sponsored by the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice & Bias conducted through a partnership between the Roger Williams University Justice System Training & Research Institute and the New England Association of Chiefs of Police, Inc.  Attendees participated in discussions that led to practical and useful information that can be utilized in their respective agency to enhance the successful prosecution of hate crimes through the identification of hate crime indicators, an analysis of the New England region's legal response to the issue, and consideration of a planned response to concerns of victims, the community, the agency, and the media.

Jametta Alston, Esq., Office of the Child Advocate, led a discussion about "Hate Crime Indicators" during a breakout session with participants from Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Thomas Palombo, Esq., and Pamela Chin, Esq., Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General, facilitated a breakout session exploring the differences and similarities between federal and state hate crime laws.

Norman G. Orodenker, Chair, Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice & Bias, addressed the community and societal issues related hate crime incidents.

Honorable Bruce M. Selya, Senior Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, delivered the luncheon address.