With the rise in hate crimes in Illinois, the question in victims’ minds is not if they can receive justice but whether they will be heard at all.

Hate crimes—felonies motivated by bias—are legally recognized in Illinois, but the lack of police frameworks to appropriately classify, react, and investigate incidents remains a major barrier to justice, according to civil rights groups.

To address this issue, advocacy groups across Illinois are calling for legislation that would make hate crime training for law enforcement mandatory. Supporters argue that without proper training, hate crimes are often ignored or misclassified, leaving the victim without justice and further eroding the trust between marginalized communities and police.

“Too often, our communities experience hate and bigotry without receiving the justice they deserve, largely because law enforcement officials might lack the tools or training to thoroughly investigate and accurately report these bias-motivated crimes,” said Upneet Teji of the Sikh Coalition in an interview with NBC Chicago.

David Goldenberg with the Midwest Anti-Defamation League echoed this, saying that he’d heard a story of a bartender being spat on by a customer who said he was triggered because the bartender was wearing a Star of David. The initial police report left out the hate-related motive, he said, serving as a prime example of how hate crimes are often overlooked when reporting initial offenses.

The proposed Illinois Senate Bill 3552, which urged the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to develop a hate crime training program, passed the Senate but stalled in the House, leaving communities and advocates frustrated at the lack of progress and attention to this pressing issue. 

“The time lost could have been used to prepare and promote training that our officers urgently need,” said Goldenberg in an interview with WGN-TV.

The delay comes as FBI data shows hate crimes in Illinois have surged from 107 reported incidents in 2013 to over 325 in 2022. One important consideration is that these numbers could be significantly lower than the actual amount of incidences, as there are flaws in both sides of the reporting process. Many victims do not report hate crimes due to circumstances like fear or police distrust, while some police departments fail to investigate and report their data as well.

Advocates argue that mandatory training for law enforcement could address these gaps and begin rebuilding trust with communities most affected by hate crimes.

“Training gives law enforcement the tools they need to respond effectively, compassionately, and consistently,” said Jim Bennett, director of the Illinois Department of Human Rights. 

While advocates continue to push for legislation that would force the issue, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office has started to use federal grants to offer voluntary training to police officers and prosecutors. Advocates hope this program can serve as a foundation for future mandatory statewide training, ensuring that victims receive the justice they deserve and restoring confidence in law enforcement.

“Too often, victims of hate crimes feel invisible,” said Goldenberg. “Mandatory training is a necessary step toward ensuring they are seen, heard, and protected.”

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