U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has announced that the Justice Department will issue new guidelines to law enforcement aimed at addressing bias in the investigation of crimes against women and LGBT people.
“The brunt of sexual and domestic violence is borne disproportionately by women and LGBT individuals, make no mistake: It is an affront to us all, threatening the integrity of our communities and violating the dignity of our fellow citizens,” Lynch stated.
Bias undermines the ability of law enforcement to adequately provide justice to victims of sexual and domestic violence. The new guidelines highlight techniques for recognizing and addressing stereotypes and assumptions, as well as call for clearer policies, more effective training, and the establishment of systems of accountability and community responsiveness.