How Community-Based Organizations Define and Pursue Justice for Hate Crime Survivors: Lessons from a New York City Coalition

• In Event: Improving the Systems Response to Hate Crimes: Key Considerations among Prosecutors and Community Organizations

Abstract

Hate crimes, like most other crimes, are substantially underreported. People targeted by hate crimes are typically members of minoritized groups, who themselves may have had prior negative interactions with law enforcement. Moreover, even if they are inclined to report to law enforcement, language and cultural barriers may impede their ability to do so. Community-based organizations help fill this void–they are often the recipient of hate crime reports, and they provide services to support victims of hate crime. Yet, for most of these organizations, hate crimes are only a small part of their overall mission, they may lack specific resources to do so, and their approaches vary quite widely. This paper draws on interviews from an ongoing community-based participatory research project in NYC involving organizations serving multiple communities affected by hate crimes. Staff at these CBOs provide insight into the types of resolution they seek in hate crimes, how they work to prevent and respond to hate crimes, and how and when they work with law enforcement, government, and other community partners. Together, the study provides greater insight into their work, how they can be supported, and barriers to more effective law enforcement coordination.

Authors

• Sana Khan, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance

• Ebony Ruhland, Rutgers University-Newark

• Raven Lewis, Rutgers University-Newark, School of Criminal Justice