Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
“Every FBI field office has a civil rights program and is responsible for maintaining relationships in their local communities,” said Snead. “At the FBI Headquarters level, the Civil Rights Unit engages with internal partners to build and maintain relationships with national advocacy groups.”
The Bureau offers resources, forensic expertise, and experience in identification of proof of hate-based motivations. FBI field offices participate in working groups or task forces to develop strategies to address local hate crime problems. And the FBI conducts hundreds of operational seminars, workshops, and annual training sessions for local law enforcement, minority and religious organizations, and community groups.
“Hate incidents are under reported in South Carolina, and that’s something we’re trying to change through education and relationship building,” said Supervisory Special Agent Craig Januchowski, who supervises FBI Columbia’s Civil Right squad. “One way we’re doing that is through our partnership with the U.S. attorney’s office in the United Against Hate outreach initiative.”
The United Against Hate community outreach program aims to help people report hate crimes more effectively. The program teaches community members how to spot and report these incidents while also building trust between the public and law enforcement. Participants engage in discussions and real-life examples to understand the importance of reporting acts of hate to local police and the FBI.
FBI Columbia also provides training to all police recruits at the South Carolina Police Academy. Trainings focuses on hate crimes, civil rights, and public corruption and include sessions where agents educate each graduating class on identifying hate crimes and incidents, as well as the importance of contacting the FBI for further investigation when necessary.
“The most important thing is trust,” Januchowski said, particularly for individuals who have felt unheard or were once reluctant to reach out for help. “We know we’re only as strong as our relationships, and we’ve made significant strides in bridging those gaps through proactive outreach and education.”
“Historically, reporting hate crimes is hard,” said Snead. “But it takes work on our end as well. We must be vulnerable and transparent in our relationships with communities.”
Following this landmark verdict, Snead says the FBI wants members of the LGBTQIA+ community to feel protected and to know the FBI is fighting for their protections. Nothing can erase the pain Doe’s family will endure, but the FBI anticipates this case will be a deterrent to future crimes.
“We want members of the LGBTQIA+ community to feel heard and to feel comfortable being who they are,” said Snead. “Because no one should be victimized for being who they are.”