U.S. Attorney’s Office to Host Meeting in the Community to Combat Hate Crimes
WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia will host a D.C. Hate-Bias Crimes Task Force meeting today, at the Frank D. Reeves Center. The meeting will provide an opportunity for the community to come together to discuss hate-bias crimes in the District and share strategies for addressing such crimes.
The Hate-Bias Task Force comprises agency and community partners in the District that focuses on addressing crimes that impact various affinity groups in the city.
In 1995, the Office implemented the Community Prosecution Initiative, which involves not only prosecuting criminals and litigating cases, but connecting with stakeholders to understand and address the public safety needs of our local communities. This community-based strategy enables Community Prosecutors and Community Outreach Specialists to work directly with residents, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other community stakeholders to develop a comprehensive approach to fighting crime and protecting those who live and work in the District of Columbia.
The Office’s present community outreach strategy focuses on building bonds of trust between the Office and the community; enhancing public safety through education; and increasing community participation in the criminal justice system.
The event is free and open to the public, and will be held at the Frank D. Reeves Center, located at 2000 14th Street NW on Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy Pohlhaus for External Affairs will be present to answer questions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the D.C. Center for the LGBT Community, and the D.C. Anti-Violence Project are partnering to organize the upcoming meeting. Please come learn about the law governing hate-bias crimes and how our Office prosecutes these crimes. For more information or special accommodations, please contact Melanie.Howard@usdoj.gov or 202-252-6930.