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Prosecutor’s office launches hate crimes hotline

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The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office has a new hotline for people who believe they have experienced or witnessed a crime potentially motivated by bias.

The Marion County Hate Crimes Hotline, which started Aug. 23, is meant to serve multiple purposes. First, it’s a resource for people to figure out what next steps they can take if they’ve been victimized. That could include filing a formal police report. But the social worker and victim advocate who monitor the hotline can also help people process what happened to them.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said some people aren’t sure if what they experienced was actually a hate crime — meaning it happened because of a social identifier including race, religion and sexuality. Others may brush it off because they think they’re overreacting or believe nothing will be done anyway if they report it.

Victims can choose to file a formal report with local law enforcement or be referred to a service provider for trauma counseling and other assistance.

The hotline can be reached at 317-327-5314; it is not for emergencies.

Julianne Miller, a special victims advocate, said the hotline had received about five calls as of Aug. 26, and those mostly involved general questions about what constitutes a hate crime.

Making people more comfortable could help give a clearer picture of how prevalent hate crimes are, at least locally. National studies have shown hate crimes are underreported.

“What we’re trying to do is help people understand that that interaction that you may have had with someone could have been motivated by hate or bias,” Mears said.

In a typical conversation, a social worker or victim advocate will ask the caller about the basics of the incident, as well as if there are any differences in identities between the people involved and if the person believes the crime was committed because of those differences.

Miller said it’s important to ask direct questions while also being mindful of the “power dynamic” between the victim and the person trying to get information.

Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.

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