May 16, 2002

Attorney General John Ashcroft
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 4400
Washington, DC 20530-0001

Dear Attorney General Ashcroft:

On behalf of the 155,000 members and affiliates of the American Psychological Association (APA), I am writing to commend you for your strong and vocal support for federal involvement in the prosecution of hate crimes. This is clearly evidenced by the Department of Justice's recent indictment in the brutal killings of Julianne Marie Williams and Laura "Lollie" S. Winans in Shenandoah National Park. We hope that you will further demonstrate your concern over hate crimes by supporting the passage of S. 625, the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 (LLEEA).

The APA is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA members are actively engaged in research and practice initiatives related to hate crimes. Psychological research has demonstrated deleterious mental health outcomes (e.g., depression and anxiety, including posttraumatic stress disorder) for victims of hate crimes. LLEEA would strengthen our nation's response to hate crimes by expanding federal jurisdiction over hate crimes and by providing state and local law enforcement with federal assistance to investigate and prosecute hate crimes.

Currently, many hate crimes often go unrecognized and unprosecuted. By enabling the federal government to address those cases that other jurisdictions are either unable or unwilling to investigate and prosecute, the LLEEA would allow for a more comprehensive response to hate crimes. This response would also include hate crimes motivated by a person's gender, sexual orientation, or disability. The federal government needs to have jurisdiction over such crimes to further protect its citizens at increased risk for such victimization.

Under current law, the Department of Justice was only able to investigate and prosecute the murders in Shenandoah National Park because they took place on federal property. If these bias-motivated murders had taken place just outside Shenandoah National Park, federal law enforcement officials would not have been able to assist the Virginia police in the investigation or prosecution of these crimes. Also, because Virginia is not among the 24 states that include gender in its hate crime statute, and is not among the 27 states that include sexual orientation, without federal involvement, these murders would not have been able to be charged as a hate crime at all. We strongly believe that geography should not dictate whether the expertise of the FBI and federal prosecutors can be brought to bear in confronting violent acts of hatred and intolerance.

In closing, we appreciate the Department's vigilance in seeking justice for the murders of Ms. Williams and Ms. Winans. We hope the Administration will announce its support for the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, which will provide the necessary tools for continued success in prosecuting hate crimes. The LLEEA may be brought to the Senate floor for a vote as early as next week. Given the urgency of this matter, voicing your support for hate crime legislation is now more critical than ever.

Sincerely,

Raymond D. Fowler, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and
Chief Executive Officer

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