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Despite Surge in US Hate Crimes, Feds Prosecute Fewer Cases

Masood Farivar

   WASHINGTON - At a time when hate crimes are on the rise in the United
   States, federal prosecutions of such offenses have declined sharply
   under the administration of President Donald Trump, according to data
   released this week by the Justice Department.

   Since the enactment of a landmark federal hate crimes law 10 years ago,
   federal prosecutors have charged more than 330 people with hate crime
   offenses, including more than 70 people during the past three years,
   the Justice Department said Wednesday.

   Although the department said it has "strengthened its hate crimes
   prosecution program" in recent years, the figures show a decline of
   nearly 38% in the number of people charged with hate crimes annually
   over the past three years when compared with prosecutions during the
   last seven years of the previous administration. This comes as
   bias-motivated crimes against Blacks, Jews, Muslims, LGBTQ people and
   other protected classes have continued to rise in recent years.

   The Justice Department did not respond to repeated requests for an
   explanation for the decrease.

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