Prosecutor's Office honored for work against hate crimes in Boulder County

The District Attorney's Office's interdisciplinary discrimination and hate crimes team was recently recognized by the National Association of Counties for its work in Boulder County – which includes a discrimination and hate crimes hotline, according to a press release.

According to the press release, the FBI reports that hate crimes are at an all-time high in Colorado and across the United States. Although no specific current numbers were available, 28 percent of Colorado residents have been the victim of a hate crime in the past five years, according to a survey by the Hate Free Colorado Coalition, which includes the Bias and Hate Crimes team. In 2022, the FBI documented 318 cases of hate crimes in Colorado, according to the press release.

The Hate Crimes Team, created by 20th District Attorney Michael Dougherty, combines law enforcement training, community input and victim assistance, the release said. Despite the increasing number of reported hate crimes across Colorado, many incidents go unreported. The DA team's efforts are aimed at improving the handling of hate crimes, supporting victims and increasing community safety, the release said.