While the National Bias Crimes Training Curriculum marks a new step forward in fostering collaboration between individuals in law enforcement and victim assistance, much work has already occurred. This training package builds on the best efforts and practices to date.
Working together, and with the assistance of a national panel of experts, Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), and the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council carried out a complete review of existing materials and programs. We identified the best policies, procedures, practices, and materials currently being used to address bias crimes, the existing research on bias crimes and offenders, and the effects of these crimes on individuals and communities. Focus groups composed of law enforcement and victim service professionals provided valuable insights in designing the curriculum. The curriculum was field tested to ensure that it is relevant to both victim assistance and law enforcement professionals, and that it is user-friendly. The results are reflected in the approach and materials presented in this guide.
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