News

Eliminate the Hate

A Joint Project by:
Anti-Defamation League ®
Ventura County Probation Agency
Superior Court of California, County of Ventura

Hate crimes by youthful offenders continue to impair the quality of life in Ventura County. The incidents of hate motivated crimes presents a growing threat to the security of our communities. Judge John Dobroth brought the Ventura Probation Agency and the ADL together to develop the Eliminate the Hate program to reduce hate crimes through anti-bias educational programs for youth workers, minors, parents, and community members.

The Eliminate the Hate program has been designed to reduce hate-related incidents by identifying how youth facility staff, families, minors, and adults can respond to escalating acts of violence toward others.

• Phase I: Diversity Training for facility staff that are certified by the State of California Standards and Training for Corrections.

• Phase II: Multi agency treatment team of volunteers serve on the Advisory Council and receive in-depth training to customize and deliver an eight week education series for minors.

• Phase III: Minors participate in the eight-week in custody program to examine their own biases and to learn ways to combat prejudice. This includes a visit to the Museum of Tolerance and/or other educational opportunities.

• Phase IV: A series of community meetings open to the public co-sponsored by various boards of education, law enforcement, and social service organizations. Meeting topics include hate crimes education, Teaching Children to Reject Hate, guest speakers on hate group affiliation, and other presentations.

• Phase V: A program for out of custody minors.
  

The program focuses on developing self-awareness and examines bias and methods of identifying how intolerant behavior impacts lives and communities. Other sessions include a trip to the Museum of Tolerance and continued discussion in which the participants will discuss action plans for reducing intolerance and building better community relationships.

In/Out of custody juvenile wards or minors on informal probation who have been involved in hate crimes, are inclined toward participation with hate crime groups, or in general may benefit from participation in the program.

Participants will learn to

• Identify their own biases.

• Identify, understand, and effectively combat bias-related incidents and hate crime.

• Value themselves as individuals and as a member of a group.

• Appreciate diversity through alternative experiences and exposure to varied people, events, and culture.

• Use team-building techniques and strategies to work with peers to eradicate or reduce bias and hate crime in their communities.

• Interact with peers to cope effectively and create environments to increase inter-group understanding and promote social responsibility.

Download: Information flyer

CONTACTS

	Julie Flapan, Project Director Anti Defamation League 10495 Santa Monica Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90025 Phone: 800-446-ANTI [2684] Phone: 310-446-8000
	Constina Baylor Consultant/Facilitator Pager: 805 339-8412 constinabaylor@aol.com
	Calvin C. Remington Ventura County Probation Agency 800 South Victoria Avenue Ventura, CA 93009 Phone: 805-654-2132
	John E. Dobroth Superior Court of California County of Ventura 800 South Victoria Avenue Ventura, CA 93009 Phone: 805-662-6620