Bias Crimes Part 3: Victims and Investigations focuses on understanding bias crimes and their impact on victims and the broader community. It equips learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to and manage bias crimes effectively, always ensuring the safety and dignity of victims. The course also provides practical guidance on investigating bias-motivated crimes, interviewing victims and witnesses, identifying bias indicators, and reporting bias crimes.
Course Objectives:
- Define and Recognize Bias Crimes: Students will be able to define bias crimes and distinguish them from other criminal activity by identifying key indicators and motivations.
- Assess the Impact on Victims: Students will analyze the short- and long-term effects of bias crimes on victims, including trauma, fear, and the potential for further victimization.
- Evaluate Community Impact: Students will evaluate how bias crimes affect communities’ cohesion, safety, and well-being, considering community relations, public trust, and social stability factors.
- Respond Appropriately to Bias Crimes: Students will learn to respond to bias crimes in a legally sound, culturally sensitive manner and in a way that supports victims, including initial assessment and crisis intervention.
- Investigate Bias Crimes: Students will learn investigative techniques specific to bias crimes, including identifying evidence, sensitively interviewing victims and witnesses, and understanding the challenges unique to these investigations.
Instructors: Brenda Skogman is a Victim Advocate for Isanti County Attorney’s Office. Alex Gerhardson is an Investigator for Isanti County Sheriff’s Office.
POST Number: 09053-00901 POST Credit: 1
Mandated Learning Objective: Crimes Motivated By Bias
This one-hour course has been approved by the Minnesota POST Board under the mandated category of Crimes Motivated by Bias.
