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ProPublica: Hate crimes data

Ken Schwencke filed this request with the Cambridge Police Department of Cambridge, MA.
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Ken Schwencke


To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, ยง10, I hereby request the following records:

Any database or other records of hate crimes or crimes evidencing bias of race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin or disability reported to or investigated by your agency since Jan. 1, 2010, containing at least the following fields:

the incident number
date of the incident
whether the crime was against individuals or a business / property
number of victims
race or ethnicity of the victims
gender of the victims
the offense classification
the location of the incident
the bias motivation (anti-black, anti-muslim, etc)

I would like the records in a machine-readable, electronic format if possible. If the records are kept in another format, or kept individually, I would still like copies.

This request is made as part of the Documenting Hate Project, a collaboration involving dozens of news organizations, led by ProPublica. Coverage from the project is compiled at https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/hatecrimes#hatecrime-coverage.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Ken Schwencke

From: Warnick,Jeremy

Mr. Schwencke,

In response to your request related to hate crimes or crimes evidencing bias reported to or investigated by our agency since Jan. 1, 2010, I have attached and outlined information below:

1. One (1) attached compilation of documented incidents categorized by the requested fields between 2010-2016.
2. Links to the Cambridge Police Annual Crime Reports between 2010-2015, which contain special Hate Crime Reports:

i. 2015-2012:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/cpd/Publications?SortBy=80&Category=Annual+Report&Keyword=&Path=%2fsitecore%2fcontent%2fhome%2fcpd&Page=1&Lang=en&ObjectDatabaseID=web&ResultsPerPage=10

ii. 2011-2004:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/cpd/Publications?SortBy=80&Category=Crime+Reports&Keyword=&Path=%2fsitecore%2fcontent%2fhome%2fcpd&Page=1&Lang=en&ObjectDatabaseID=web&ResultsPerPage=10

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Warnick
Director of Communications
Cambridge Police Department

From: Alpha Assistance

Documents provided by agency.

From: Ken Schwencke

Hi Jeremy,

Thanks so much for your help with this request! I really appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Ken Schwencke

From: Ken Schwencke

Jeremy,

Can I ask if there are any reports at all from 2017?

Thanks so much,
Ken Schwencke
ProPublica
w: 917-512-0253
c: 561-756-6135

From: Warnick,Jeremy

Hi Ken,

Our Crime Analysis Unit conducts a thorough review process at the end of each year to synchronize data and validate possible hate-related crime.

As a result, validated reports for 2017 are not currently available.

Jeremy Warnick
Director of Communications
Cambridge Police Department

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