Overview

• Massachusetts has launched a new state police unit, the Hate Crimes Awareness and Response Team, to deter hate crimes and support victims.
• The formation of the unit comes as reports of hate crimes in the state are on the rise, with 440 incidents reported in 2022, the highest since 2002.
• The unit will bolster statewide data collection and information-sharing to identify patterns and trends in hate crimes.
• It will also develop training protocols to help police agencies better investigate hate crimes and streamline coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
• Nearly $500,000 in Hate Crime Prevention grants have been awarded to 10 school districts in Massachusetts that have experienced hate issues.