HATE-BIAS IMPACT PANEL

MISSION

The purpose of the HBI Panel and its supporting task force is to foster awareness, educate, promote understanding of, and to eliminate hate bias incidents and/or crimes in our community.

OVERVIEW OF THE HATE-BIAS PANEL

• Initiated in 1998, with the cooperation of the Office of Human Rights (OHR), the Human Rights Commission (HRC), the District and Circuit Court Judges, Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, Office of the State’s Attorney, and advocacy groups from the community

• Begun as a legal response to hate crimes

• Patterned after the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Panel (with their permission),

• Protecting all groups under law who are represented on the task force and have equal voice in program development

DEFINITION

The Howard County Department of Police, Administrative General Order #10 defines a Hate-Bias incident as, “A reported act which appears to be motivated, or is perceived by the victim to be motivated, all or in part, by race, religion, ethnic background, sexual orientation or disability. To be considered an incident, the act is not required to be a crime under any federal, state, or local statutes.”

GOALS

To formulate effective proactive and reactive measures for all groups protected by federal, state, and local law. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Formulating diversity and tolerance education programs using the Panel,

• Creating public service announcements that serve to inform the public that Howard County will not tolerate these types of incidents or crimes,

• Assuring that all hate bias crimes are reported correctly and prosecuted fully,

• Responding to a community and/or individual who has been victimized by a hate-bias incident, and

• Forming a unified link with the State’s Attorney’s Office, Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, OHR, HRC, Board of Education and any group(s) that represent those protected under the hate-bias statute.

MEMBERS:

Roy L. Appletree

Mary M. Campbell

C. Vernon Gray

Pat Davis

Jeff Dreifuss

Jacques Fein

Lisa Healy

Raymond T. Johnson

Judy Pasquanotonio

Mubariz Razvi

Jennifer Reidy

Colette Roberts

Charles Tracy

THE PANEL PRESENTATION

• The primary goal of the panel is to provide those who have perpetrated hate crimes with an experience which will foster a growth of understanding and tolerance as well as initiate a respect for differences.

• The panel is designed to be about a ninety minute presentation, and can be presented to small or large groups,

• A coordinator will begin the session with a brief introduction about the program. An educational film will be shown, and three or more panel members will then speak individually (about 15 minutes each) regarding their own experiences with hatred and bigotry, and the impact on their personal lives.

• An evaluation is done at the end of the session. A debriefing and coaching session with the panel members and other participants may follow.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Call OHR at 410-313-6430 to discuss how you may become involved in this program, either as a panelist or in program development.