Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
Transgender people are disproportionately harmed by violence – so much so that the Justice Department is training law enforcement how to handle them as crime victims.
The idea is to help identify hate crimes and build more trust with law enforcement, the Associated Press reports.
“It’s clear that such a training is as necessary as it is overdue,” Associate Attorney General Tony West said at a ceremony unveiling the program. “Because too often, in too many places, we know that transgender victims are discouraged from reporting hate crimes and hate violence due to their past negative interactions with and perceptions of law enforcement.”
Police have been criticized for their responsiveness to crimes against transgender people, according to the AP.
