The Department of Justice has announced nearly $30 million in grant funding to combat the rise in hate and bias crimes. The funding, distributed through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will support law enforcement agencies, states, community-based organizations, national civil rights organizations, and other stakeholders. These grants aim to improve the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes, solve cold cases, serve victims, and support related research.
“These grants are vital in helping to ensure law enforcement and community members get the support they need as they continue to strive to keep all communities safe,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “Everyone in this country deserves not only to feel safe but to be safe in their communities, and we’re excited about the new grant funding investments made.”
The announcement was made at the inaugural hate crimes grantee conference organized by OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The grants are part of broader efforts by the Justice Department to enhance community safety, serve crime victims, support youth initiatives, advance scientific research, and promote equal justice.
“Freedom from intolerance and from the fear of violence is foundational to community safety and fundamental to the concept of equal justice,” said OJP Acting Assistant Attorney General Brent J. Cohen. “I’m very pleased that OJP is making these important resources available to our community partners and proud of the work we’re engaged in together to end hate and bias crimes and incidents in our country.”
The funding includes:
- $12 million under BJA’s Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Program for local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices.
- Over $7.6 million awarded by BJA to 11 community-based organizations and civil rights groups for comprehensive hate crime prevention strategies.
- $1 million for Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office under BJA’s Emmett Till Cold Case Investigation Program.
- $2.7 million for RTI International and its subrecipients for launching BJA’s Coordinated Hate Crimes Resource Center.
- $1.125 million for Washington State Attorney General’s Office through OVC's Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act program.
- $2.5 million for Bureau of Justice Statistics’ project on National Incident-Based Reporting System data.
- $2.5 million from National Institute of Justice for research projects on specialized law enforcement units responding to hate crimes.
Additionally, Mizer announced a new Youth Hate Crimes and Identity-Based Bullying Prevention Curriculum by OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice aimed at middle and high school students. The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office will also launch new training on investigating hate crimes.