Majority Of NJ Bias Crimes Involve Children: Prosecutor

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ - The majority of bias crimes in the Garden State involve children, and authorities are asking that the public do their part to see them prosecuted.

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Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Bias Crimes Unit hosted a virtual community forum on Monday in order to address this issue. They were joined by Middlesex County Department of Corrections and Youth Services Chief Investigator and President of the New Jersey State Bias Crimes Officers Association, David D'Amico.

“What we encourage the young people to do is speak up. I have seen the new generations display such courage to challenge offensive conduct or statements. In athletics, it can be said in the course of good sportsmanship, or perhaps in the course of simply a dialogue," Carroll said. "If someone says something off-color or offensive, stand up and say to that person, not necessarily in a counter-insulting way, but make it clear 'we don’t appreciate that.' It will make a difference.”

D’Amico said a foundation of ignorance can escalate into acts of discrimination or violence, and that education is the key to breaking down stereotypes about different groups of people. Explaining the law enforcement perspective, investigations of potential bias incidents are based on three factors:

• recognizing
• responding
• reporting

Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Samantha DeNegri said the importance of educating youth regarding bias crimes and incidents. She urged the public not to overlook and to report bias behavior to the proper authorities. While not every circumstance may rise to the level of a bias incident or crime, they may be harassment, criminal mischief or other infractions.

According to Detective Supervisor Patrick LaGuerre, a majority of reported bias incidents involve juveniles and reports of bias incidents have increased due to the rise of online activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office has taken a preventative approach, holding assemblies at schools and virtually to educate students on the importance of exercising good judgment when it comes to what you post online or share with friends.

LaGuerre noted he welcomed school administrators to reach out to his office if they had any questions or wished to host educational programs for their students.

Panelists also took questions from the public on the role of municipal departments play, whether a bias incident could be based on politics, law enforcement training to recognize potential bias crimes, and other topics.

“Especially during these unprecedented and challenging times, the Morris County Prosecutor’s
Office will continue to work with our law enforcement and community partners to ensure that
every resident feels welcome and safe in Morris County,” Carroll said.

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