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February 26, 1999/10 Adar 5759, Vol. 51, No. 22
Hate groups use prisons to recruit
ANNE BRADY
Managing Editor
Some prisoners in Arizona correctional facilities are learning to hate minorities while incarcerated and then leaving prison and forming white supremacist groups on the outside, contributing to an increase in white supremacist activity in the state.
That was the message shared with members of the Arizona Hate Crime Advisory Board at a meeting this week. Al Shearer, an investigator with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, told board members that he has noticed an increase in white supremacist groups recruiting new members and group leaders within Arizona prisons.
"They are learning this philosophy in prison," Shearer said. "I am seeing, from the perspective of the county attorney's office, more of a connection. White supremacist groups are encouraging prisoners to form groups. ... They have no tattoos when they enter prison. They start white supremacist groups when they get out.
"It happened four years ago at Adobe Mountain, the correctional facility for juveniles. ... It's happening now here in Arizona (adult facilities)," Shearer added.
Representatives of the Tucson Police Department reported that, partly due to an increase in white supremacist activity in Tucson, there were 29 hate crimes recorded there in 1998, compared to only seven in 1997. They said this is also because hate crimes were less likely to be reported as such in the past.
In other business at the Feb. 24 meeting at the China Doll restaurant in Phoenix:
- Members discussed plans for a statewide, quarterly meeting on hate crimes, planned for April 21. The purpose will be for representatives of the state's various cities, county attorney's offices and boards of supervisors to collaborate on efforts to combat hate crime. About 60 people are expected.
- Members expressed concern that not enough prosecutors are seeking enhanced sentences for hate crimes under last year's new hate crimes law.
- The board voted to set up a three-member committee to draft an action plan for dealing with hate crimes in small towns; listen to complaints from victims and assess whether anything can be done to help them; and develop a guide for small-town victims to help them pursue prosecution of their cases.
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