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Falcon Heights Bias/Hate Response Plan Falcon Heights Human Rights Commission Originally drafted Apri14, 1997 Current draft: August 25, 2005 Context During the past decade more than 50 cities and 2 counties have formed Human Rights Commissions throughout Minnesota in cooperation with the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions (LMHRC) and the State Department of Human Rights. Many commissions have developed community support response plans in the event that a bias or hate crime occurs in their communities Bias/Hate crimes occur "...if the officer has reason to believe, or if the victim alleges, that the offender was motivated to commit the act by the victim's race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or characteristics identified as sexual orientation." (MN Statute). Assaults, property damage, oral abuse and other offenses that are motivated by hate or bias allow the court to impose a more severe sentence because the crime has the added offense of bigotry and hatred against a particular individual or group. Some Falcon Heights' neighboring communities such as St. Paul, Roseville, and Plymouth have developed plans based on the LMHRC models. Although very few bias/hate crimes have been • reported in Falcon Heights, it is prudent for the City of Falcon Heights to have a response plan in place in the event that such a crime does occur here. This proposal for a Falcon Heights Bias/Hate Response Plan is based on outlines of the LMHRC and neighbor city plans. It was prepared by the Falcon Heights Human Rights Commission in consultation with the police department serving Falcon Heights, the Saint Anthony Police Department. Purpose The Falcon Heights Human Rights Commission (FHHRC) is making this proposal to establish a community response plan in the event of a reported bias/hate crime in the City of Falcon Heights, and to join with the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions in a state-wide response to counter hate and bias crimes. The FHHRC will not be involved in the investigation of bias/hate crimes, but we will be the initiators and coordinators of community support for the victims of such crimes whether they are individuals or groups. We seek endorsement of the Response Plan by the City Council, the cooperation of the police department serving Falcon Heights, and the good will of leaders and citizens of this community in responding to criminal activity motivated by bias or hate against individuals or groups. The Response Plan in Brief The plan is based on the assumption that the people who live in the City of Falcon Heights wish • to respond collectively in the event that a bias or hate crime is committed here. The plan is based