Community Expansion to Combat and Curb Hate Crimes in Suffolk County, New York

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office (SCDA)—one of the nation’s largest prosecutor’s offices, serving one of the nation’s largest criminal jurisdictions—has faced a steady stream of hate crime-related incidents over the past few years. Having transitioned its leadership on January 1, 2022, the new SCDA administration has taken immediate steps over the past 17 months to combat this increase, including, but not limited to: (1) creation of its Hate Crimes, Elder Abuse, Anti-Bias/Immigrant Affairs, Human Trafficking (HEAT Unit); (2) hiring of two highly skilled supervisors to lead  HEAT; (3) assignment of an Assistant District Attorney to handle hate crime investigations and prosecutions; (4) development of a tipline; and (5) development of an Anti-Bias Advisory Council to the District Attorney, comprised of members of the Suffolk County community.

The office endeavors, through this grant application, to supplement its internal hate crime apparatus by hiring a Community Relations Assistant, whose role will be to educate and incorporate the communities of Suffolk County into this battle against hate-motivated crimes.