Co. Prosecutor Urges Reporting of Bias Crimes, Incidents

CREST HAVEN – Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland issues the following statement on the need and importance of reporting biased based crimes and incidents to law enforcement:
“It  has  recently  been  reported  that  a  local  ice  cream  parlor  in  Cape  May,  Fine  Fellows  Creamery,  has  been  the  victim  of  a  series  of  bias  incidents  and/or  bias  crimes.    For  point  of  reference  the  bias  incident  is  the  derogatory  anti-gay  slurs  directed at the owners.  The bias crime is the theft of the gay pride flags, assuming they were stolen as a means of intimidation against the store owners.
I did not write this to provide a legal lesson on what is a bias incident versus a bias crime – but to stress to the public the urgent need to report any activity  they may  witness  or  be  a  victim  of  that  they believe  may  be  a  bias  incident  or  a  bias  crime.    
The  reason  law  enforcement needs to know about any such incident (whether or not it is a crime) is to first make  sure  that  the  victim’s  needs  are  addressed  and  that  the  perpetrator  is  found  and  potentially charged.   
The  secondary  reason,  but  no  less  important,  is  to  provide  law  enforcement  with  an  accurate picture of activities that, even if they are not currently a crime, they could lead to crimes in the future;  or be evidence of hate groups in our community or being organized in our community and planning or engaged in potential bias crimes.   
If a bias crime can be prevented by locating the perpetrator of a bias event and directing the  person  to  the  appropriate  program  or  individuals  to  hopefully  help  understand  and change  their  belief;  or  at  a  minimum,  having  them  understand  that  their  beliefs  may  lead  them to engage in criminal activity, the community as a whole is served.  
The controlling New Jersey law NJS 2C:16-2 provides that a “person is guilty of a crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts to commit, conspires to commit, or threatens the immediate  commission  of…”  certain  criminal  offenses  (ie.-  theft,  assault,  property  damage,  homicide,  etc.)  “with  the  purpose  to  intimidate  an  individual  or  group  of  individuals  because  of  race,  color,  religion,  gender,  disability,  sexual  orientation,  gender  identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity…”    
If anyone is a victim of or witness a bias incident or bias crime in Cape May County they can report the incident to their local police by dialing 911, or contacting the Cape May County Prosecutor’s  Office  (609)  465-1135,  ex.  3331  or  the  New  Jersey  Department  of  Criminal  Justice Bias Crime Tip line (800) 277-BIAS(2427).     
The  police  agency  receiving  the  reported  incident  will  address  any  underlying  crime  that  may  have  been  committed  and  also  complete  a  Supplementary  Bias  Incident  Offense  report (in addition to any criminal  investigation  report).    
Whether it is a bias crime or bias incident  the  Supplemental  Bias  Incident  Offense  report  is  provided  to  the  County  Prosecutor’s  office  and  the  New  Jersey  Division  of  Criminal  Justice  so  evidence  of  such  activities are documented, tracked and cross-referenced with any other potentially related activities that could lead to crimes or be evidence of a pattern of criminal activity.  
It  is  likely  that  anyone  reading  this  either  is  a  member  of  one  of  the  protected  groups  outlined above, or has a loved one or friend who is.  
However, even if that is not the case, reporting  Bias  Crimes  and  Bias  Incidents  protects  all  and  makes  our  communities  safer  for  everyone;  residents  and  visitors  alike.      
We  have  seen  how  hate  and  bias  can  lead  to  tragedies  in  places  such  as  a  predominantly  black  church  in  South  Carolina,  a  synagogue   in   Pittsburgh,   a   night   club   in   Florida   and   to   peaceful   protesters   in   Charlottesville, as well as other incidents.  No one should live in fear simply for their beliefs or for being who they are.”