GENERAL ORDERS LINCOLN POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: GENERAL OPERATIONS
TITLE: HATE CRIMES
EFFECTIVE DATE: JUNE 1, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF SCOTT BONNER
Embedded Files
HATE CRIMES
319.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to provide members of this department with guidelines for identifying and investigating incidents and crimes that may be motivated by hatred or other bias.
319.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
HATE CRIME - A crime motivated by prejudice based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or physical or mental disability of the victim (Ala. Code § 13A-5-13).
319.2 POLICY
The Lincoln Police Department recognizes and places a high priority on the rights of all individuals guaranteed under the state and federal constitution and incorporated in state and federal law.
319.3 PREVENTION AND PREPARATION
While it is recognized that not all crime can be prevented, this department is committed to taking a proactive approach to preventing and preparing for likely hate crimes by:
(a) Making an affirmative effort to establish contact with persons and groups within the community who are likely targets of hate crimes, and forming networks that address prevention and response.
(b) Providing victim assistance and community follow-up or identifying available resources to do so.
(c) Educating community and civic groups about hate crime laws.
319.4 INVESTIGATIONS
Whenever any member of this department receives a report of a suspected hate crime or other activity that reasonably appears to involve a potential hate crime, the following should occur:
(a) Assigned officers should promptly contact the victim, witness or reporting party to investigate the matter further, as circumstances may dictate.
(b) A supervisor should be notified of the circumstances as soon as practicable.
(c) Once the in-progress aspect of any such situation has been stabilized (e.g., treatment of victims or arrest of suspects at the scene), the assigned officers should take reasonable steps to preserve evidence that establishes a possible hate crime.
(d) Based upon available information, officers should take appropriate action to mitigate further injury or damage to potential victims or the community.
(e) Depending on the situation, the assigned officers or supervisor may request assistance from investigators or other resources.
(f) The assigned officers should interview available witnesses, victims and others to determine what circumstances, if any, indicate that the situation may involve a hate crime.
(g) The assigned officers should make reasonable efforts to assist the victim by providing available information on local assistance programs and organizations as required by the Victim and Witness Assistance Policy.
(h) The assigned officers should include all available evidence indicating the likelihood of a hate crime in the relevant reports.
(i) The assigned officers and supervisor should take reasonable steps to ensure that any such situation does not escalate further and should provide information to the victim regarding legal aid, temporary restraining orders and victim rights through the courts.
319.4.1 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS RESPONSIBILITIES
If a hate crime case is assigned to the Criminal Investigations, the assigned investigator will be responsible for:
(a) Coordinating further investigation with the City Prosecutor and other appropriate law enforcement agencies.
(b) Maintaining contact with the victim and other involved individuals, as needed.
These policies and operating procedures are not designed to cover every possible scenario or situation in society, but rather to define standard operating procedures for members of the Lincoln Police Department. These guidelines are subject to past, present and future judicial review. These guidelines can be amended and or repealed by the Chief of Police as necessary. The policies and procedures herein provided supersede all previous policies and orders.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse