Concord, NH – Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald announces the release of new Protocols for Identifying, Investigating, and Reporting Hate Crimes and Civil Rights Violations to aid New Hampshire law enforcement and prosecutors in responding to hate crimes and civil rights violations.

"With the formation of the dedicated Civil Rights Unit in the Department of Justice there is a need to provide standardized guidelines and focused training to better prepare members of law enforcement to identify and appropriately respond to incidents where potential bias or hate-motivated crimes have occurred," said Attorney General MacDonald. "New Hampshire derives strength and prosperity from valuing the diversity of its population and its commitment to equal justice for all. These protocols strive to ensure that New Hampshire remains a welcoming and safe place for all."

The protocol requests that each police department designate at least one staff member to serve as the department's civil-rights designee, who will coordinate the department's response to alleged bias or hate-motivated crimes and incidents. That designee will also collaborate with the Attorney General's Civil Rights Unit and the respective county attorney's office to determine the appropriate response and what enforcement actions are necessary.

The protocols were developed by the Civil Rights Unit with the leadership of Center Harbor Chief Mark Chase, past-president of the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, with the collaboration of Chief Paul Dean from the University of New Hampshire, Chief Matthew Canfield from Laconia, and Chief Tara Laurent from Greenland.

• Hate Crime and Civil Rights Violation Protocol 

About the Civil Rights Unit in the Department of Justice

The Attorney General enforces both the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination and the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act for all who live in and visit New Hampshire. Anyone who believes their civil rights have been violated are encouraged to file a complaint here: https://www.doj.nh.gov/civil-rights/index.htm.