Letter to Jessie Liu, United States Attorney - Norton Sends Letter to D.C. U.S. Attorney on LGBTQ Hate Crimes

Letter

Dear United States Attorney Liu:

As you may know, the number of reported hate crimes in the District of Columbia almost doubled between 2016 and 2018. Many of these crimes were targeted at the LGBTQ community, especially transgender individuals. At a recent well-attended community forum, I learned that this community feels it is under siege. I agree.

As you are well aware, it takes only a few prosecutions to create a deterrent effect. I ask you to respond in writing within 30 days of the date of this letter to the following questions regarding hate crime prosecutions by your office in 2017, 2018 and 2019 to date:

How many hate crimes were reported to your office?

What percentage of hate crimes reported to your office were committed against LGBTQ individuals?

What percentage of hate crimes reported to your office were prosecuted, and what percentage of such hate crimes were committed against LGBTQ individuals?

Of the hate crime prosecutions, what percentage led to convictions, whether by plea or trial, and what percentage of such convictions were for crimes committed against LGBTQ individuals?

For those reported hate crimes you did not prosecute, why did your office decline to prosecute?
I appreciate your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton

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