PRESS RELEASE
New Curriculum on Bullying and Hate Crimes Empowers Students and Fosters Respectful Communities
Washington, D.C. – The Office of Justice Programs’ Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) today released the Youth Hate Crimes and Identity-Based Bullying Prevention Curriculum. Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer announced the curriculum in remarks delivered during the 2024 Hate Crimes Grantee Conference in Birmingham, Alabama, hosted by OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. The curriculum is designed to empower middle and high school students with tools to combat bias, prejudice and hate, and enhance their digital and media literacy skills.
“With students back in school, their safety, well-being and growth is our highest priority,” said Brent J. Cohen, Acting Assistant Attorney General, OJP. “Identity-based bullying and hate crimes must not be tolerated. Educators, parents, community leaders and young people must work together to build a future where respect is the standard, ensuring every student can learn and thrive in a safe environment.”
The Youth Hate Crimes and Identity-Based Bullying Prevention Curriculum tackles these issues with evidence-based interventions to address risk factors for violence and enhance protective factors that promote positive development and lawful behavior, both benefiting youth and shaping the culture of their schools and communities. As students are exploring their own identities, confronting insecurities and seeking acceptance, an unending flow of social media can expose them to content that exacerbates their vulnerabilities. If left unchecked, social media can lead to more severe forms of prejudice, hate and even radicalization. Research indicates students subjected to bullying and hate speech experience heightened rates of depression, anxiety and school absenteeism. Tragically, they have also been associated with suicide and incidents of school violence, which not only affect individual students but reverberate through entire communities, posing significant public health and safety concerns.
“We can cultivate environments that foster respect and mutual understanding by lifting up young voices,” said Liz Ryan, OJJDP Administrator. “We must foster atmospheres where diversity is celebrated, differences are respected and every individual feels valued for who they are. In doing so, we not only safeguard our children but also lay the groundwork for inclusive and respectful communities that benefit us all.”
According to the Report on Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2023, 22% of students ages 12-18 reported being bullied during the previous school year. Student discipline problems are becoming more common and challenging for educators. Bullying and hate crimes affect all students regardless of gender and grade level, both online and offline.
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention supports youth-serving organizations, schools and community groups in raising awareness and preventing identity-based bullying and hate crimes. Our aim is to prioritize the creation of bully-free environments that foster and develop healthy behaviors that uphold norms of respect and acceptance.
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