Comptroller to audit law enforcement agency's reporting of hate crimes

[hrmjustin]

By MATTHEW DONDIEGO

New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has announced his office will audit the Division of Criminal Justice Services' oversight, reporting and management of hate crimes occurring in the state.

"Hate crime is a very serious issue and recent media reports indicate these heinous incidents are on the rise," DiNapoli said. "Hatred against people because of their race, religion or sexual orientation has no place in a civil society. We need to make sure police departments across the state are reporting these incidents correctly and that they are being trained to handle the crimes properly and effectively."

DiNapoli's decision comes in response to a request from Sen. Brad Hoylman for the state Comptroller's Office to audit the state law enforcement agency in order to ensure its compliance with the state's Executive Law on hate crime reporting to improve identifying, reacting to, and investigating such crimes.

Hoylman raised the issue in a report released in August of this year examining the rise in hate crimes around the state. The Manhattan Democrat's report found LGBT-related attacks in New York City and anti-Semitic crimes across the state increased 70 and 27 percent respectively from 2012.

http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-12-06-86078.113122-Comptroller-to-audit-law-enforcement-agencys-reporting-of-hate-crimes.html

[Dawson Leery]

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