The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office has released new protocols for how police departments should handle hate crimes.
The aim is to help law enforcement better identify and report hate crimes and civil rights violations in New Hampshire.
Bias incidents and hate crimes are underreported nationwide each year. According to a press release from the Attorney General's office, 48 departments in the state did not submit any information to the FBI related to hate crimes in 2017.
Under the protocols, each police department should select at least one staff person as a civil-rights designee who will then collaborate with the state and county attorneys on cases.
The civil-rights designee will also handle any bias complaints against officers in their department.
