ProPublica: Hate crimes data
Submitted | Aug. 1, 2017 |
Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Ken Schwencke
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to Alabama's Public Records Law, 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.
This request is not being made for commercial purposes.
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 would request your response within ten (10) business days.
Sincerely,
Ken Schwencke
From: Bates, Stacy
Your request has been forwarded to Mr. Jeff Grimes in the City Legal Department.
Lt. Stacy Bates
Public Information Officer
Huntsville, AL Police Department
(256) 746-4130
stacy.bates@huntsvilleal.gov<mailto:stacy.bates@huntsvilleal.gov>
Connect with us! * Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/HuntsvillePoliceDepartment/> * Twitter<https://twitter.com/hsvpolice> *HPD E-newsletter<https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1825716/1780914/> *Website<https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/residents/public-safety/huntsville-police/police-operations/>
From: Grimes, Jeff
Dear Mr. Schwencke,
The Huntsville Police Department does not maintain the requested records in the requested format. Specifically, Huntsville Police Department does not produce records in "machine-readable, electronic format." Additionally, the Alabama "Hate Crime" Statute 13A-5-13 is limited to race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or physical or mental disability so no information regarding gender, gender orientation or sexual orientation would be available. Finally, it is the District Attorney's office rather than Huntsville Police Department that ultimately decides whether to charge someone with a hate crime.
Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey K. Grimes
From: Ken Schwencke
Mr. Grimes,
Thanks so much for getting back to me. I'd happily accept PDFs, scans, faxes, or physical mail. If the records would be limited to "race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or physical or mental disability," that's OK by me as well. Do you keep any index or list of crimes that may match bias against those classes, in any form?
Appreciate any help,
Ken Schwencke
ProPublica
w: 917-512-0253
c: 561-756-6135
From: Ken Schwencke
Mr. Grimes,
This is a follow up to my email from last month. I am still looking for records that the Huntsville Police Department keeps relating to hate crimes. Specifically, I am asking for any list of cases where the Huntsville Police Department has investigated an incident as a hate crime, or being motivated by bias of "race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or physical or mental disability."
Look forward to your response.
Thanks,
Ken Schwencke
ProPublica
w: 917-512-0253
c: 561-756-6135
From: Grimes, Jeff
The Huntsville Police Department does not maintain the requested records in the requested format. Specifically, Huntsville Police Department does not produce records in "machine-readable, electronic format." Additionally, the Alabama "Hate Crime" Statute 13A-5-13 is limited to race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or physical or mental disability so no information regarding gender, gender orientation or sexual orientation would be available. Finally, it is the District Attorney's office rather than Huntsville Police Department that ultimately decides whether to charge someone with a hate crime.
Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey K. Grimes
Sent from my iPhone
Files
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