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A group of scientists at the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice has been honored for their research examining the effects of hate crimes and their efforts to create approaches that aid victims and enhance community responses via translational research and data evaluation.
Brendan Lantz and the Hate Crime Research and Policy Institute (HCRPI) have been awarded the 2025 Eva Lassman “Take Action Against Hate” Award, awarded by Gonzaga University’s Center for the Study of Hate. This accolade honors Lantz’s leadership and HCRPI’s pioneering research and collaborations aimed at tackling hate crime violence.
Named after Holocaust survivor and human rights champion Eva Lassman, the award acknowledges HCRPI’s efforts in fighting against hate through research and actionable strategies.
“This is a remarkable honor — not only for me, but for our whole team. Our faculty collaborators, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers have devoted their time and dedication to comprehending and addressing hate crimes. This acknowledgment underscores the significance of their work.”
— Brendan Lantz, HCRPI director and associate professor of criminology and criminal justice
“This is a remarkable honor — not only for me, but for our whole team,” stated Lantz, HCRPI director and associate professor of criminology and criminal justice. “Our faculty collaborators, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers have devoted their time and dedication to comprehending and addressing hate crimes. This acknowledgment underscores the significance of their work.”
Under Lantz’s guidance, HCRPI unites top researchers such as associate professors Marin Wenger and Sylwia Piatkowska along with numerous graduate and undergraduate research interns, positioning the institute as a national authority in hate crime victim studies.
Thomas Blomberg, dean of the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, acknowledged Lantz, Wenger, and Piatkowska for their work that highlights crimes that often remain underreported.
“As their research has demonstrated, hate crimes are historically inadequately measured and recorded by law enforcement agencies nationwide,” Blomberg remarked. “Through their studies and collaboration with hate crime task forces, Brendan, Marin, and Sylwia are closing the knowledge gap, providing a fuller picture, and aiding in informing policies across the nation.”
“Through their studies and collaboration with hate crime task forces, Brendan, Marin, and Sylwia are closing the knowledge gap, providing a fuller picture, and aiding in informing policies across the nation.”
— Thomas Blomberg, dean of the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Since its inception in 2019, HCRPI has concentrated on enhancing the precision of hate crime statistics in the U.S. The institute manages the Longitudinal Hate Crime Victimization Survey, the country’s largest ongoing panel examination of the connection between exposure to bias and mental health consequences. This research yields vital insights into the implications of hate-driven violence and shapes strategies to assist affected individuals and communities.
HCRPI partners with various national and state hate crime task forces, law enforcement entities, and community organizations to improve education and address discrepancies in hate crime reporting. These collaborations have bolstered efforts to devise data-informed strategies.
“This accolade is a tribute to our team’s commitment,” Lantz expressed. “Our faculty, graduate, and undergraduate researchers are passionate about understanding and combating hate crimes. This honor fuels our mission to foster a more equitable society.”
The 2025 Eva Lassman “Take Action Against Hate” Award will be awarded at the Human Rights Awards Banquet on Nov. 6, 2025, in Spokane, Washington.
To discover more about HCRPI’s efforts, visit criminology.fsu.edu.
The article FSU’s Hate Crime Research and Policy Institute receives national award for leadership in combating hate first appeared on Florida State University News.
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