Hate Crimes Unit and Task Force

Hate Crimes Unit

The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, under the leadership of State Attorney Alexcia Cox, has established a dedicated Hate Crimes Unit in response to the troubling rise in antisemitism, attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, and racial hatred across the State of Florida. This specialized unit collaborates closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure that hate crimes are promptly identified, thoroughly investigated, and rigorously prosecuted.

State Attorney Cox:
“Every act of violence driven by prejudice erodes the foundation of justice and equality we are sworn to uphold. Our Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office stands unwavering in its commitment to confronting hate and ensuring that every person is treated with the utmost dignity, respect, and fairness under the law.”

Palm Beach County Hate Crimes Task Force

Additionally, our office has launched the Palm Beach County Hate Crimes Task Force in collaboration with the Broward County Hate Crimes Task Force and with the support of grant funding by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program. In partnership with over a dozen community leaders, stakeholders, and law enforcement agencies, the task force seeks to offer critical support and resources to victims of hate crimes, play an active role in educating and engaging the community, provide specialized training to law enforcement, and foster greater public awareness and reporting of hate crimes.

Definition of a Hate Crime:

A hate crime is a criminal act that is motivated, in whole or in part, by bias, prejudice, or hatred toward a person based on their race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other protected characteristic.

Governing statute: Florida Statute 775.085 – Evidencing prejudice while committing offense

Protected Classes:
Race
Color
Ethnicity
Religion
Sexual orientation
National origin
Homeless status
Advanced age of the victim

Task Force Members

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Palm Beach Gardens Police Department
FBI
Urban league of PBC
PBC Human Rights Council
American Jewish Committee
Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County
Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, through Secure Community Network
Palm beach County Department of Public Safety, Justice Services Division
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
Anti-Defamation League Florida Regional Office
Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center
American Muslim Alliance of Florida (AMAF)
Simon Wiesenthal Center
Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews
Wilkes Honors College Kenan Social Engagement Program, Florida Atlantic University

Contacts and Resources

Palm Beach County Hate Crimes Unit Lead and Task Force Chair:

Assistant State Attorney Freddie Menard:
(561) 355-7100

Hate Crimes Unit Email: hcu@sa15.org

United States Department of Justice Hate Crime Statistics: Visit justice.gov

State of Florida Attorney General Hate Crimes Report: Download the Report

Office of State Attorney
Alexcia Cox

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