Attorney General Merrick Garland Launches DOJ Review of Hate Crimes, Instances of Bias

On Tuesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that the Justice Department (DOJ) will conduct a monthlong internal review to determine how the agency can improve the tracking and prosecutions of hate crimes and bias incidents. In the memorandum to his staff, Garland said hate crimes have a “toxic effect” on society, and referenced a "recent rise in hate crime and hate incidents, particularly the disturbing trend in reports of violence against members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community," though he did not reference the recent Atlanta shootings, in which six Asian Americans were killed. The DOJ's 30-day internal review will evaluate the government's capacity to track and identify hate incidents, evaluate the use of civil enforcement authority to respond to incidents of bias, and evaluate whether additional money is needed to support law enforcement's response. The effort will be led by Acting Deputy Attorney General John Carlin until the Senate confirms a permanent Deputy Attorney General. The announcement marks Garland's first executive memorandum to staff since he took office. The story received consistent from across the political spectrum.