Chicago–(ENEWSPF)–September 15, 2011. Attorney General Lisa Madigan and the U.S. Department of Justice today convened a summit on hate crimes to discuss emerging legal strategies and law enforcement techniques aimed at improving investigations and prosecutions of crimes motivated by hatred and bias.
Madigan said attendees at the daylong event at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago, included U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, Assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas E. Perez and Sharon Lubinski, the U.S. Marshal for the District of Minnesota.
“As law enforcement officers, we have an obligation to show that violent hatred is a crime and we won’t tolerate it,” Attorney General Madigan said. “It’s important that we continue to learn how better to prosecute and ultimately prevent these crimes.”
Today’s conference included speakers from a number of law enforcement agencies and community organizations and focused on laws and techniques that enhance authorities’ ability to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. Notably, officials discussed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 and Illinois’ hate crime statute.
The event also sought to expand and build on partnerships between law enforcement and local community groups to better prevent and prosecute hate crimes.
“Today’s summit brought together law enforcement agencies and community advocates with the number one goal of protecting our most vulnerable citizens and holding accountable those who lash out in anger and hate against others,” Madigan said.
Source: illinoisattorneygeneral.gov
