The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office (SCDA) received a $400,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Education, Investigation and Prosecution Program (CFDA 16.040). The funding aims to enhance the SCDA's capabilities to combat hate crimes within its jurisdiction, which serves over 1.5 million residents. Key initiatives supported by the grant include:
- Hiring a dedicated Community Relations Assistant to educate the community and incorporate them into efforts to address hate-motivated crimes
- Establishing a specialized Hate Crimes, Elder Abuse, Anti-Bias/Immigrant Affairs, and Human Trafficking (HEAT) unit, including hiring two supervisors and an Assistant District Attorney focused on hate crime investigations and prosecutions
- Developing a hate crime reporting hotline and an anti-bias advisory council to the District Attorney
This award builds upon the SCDA's recent efforts to enhance its operational capabilities in addressing hate crimes, including the creation of the HEAT unit and other internal initiatives. The funding supports the SCDA's mission to combat the increase in hate-motivated incidents within its jurisdiction.
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