Police Department Provides Hate Crime Reporting Books in Asian Languages

The Buffalo Grove Police Department is offering residents three new books entitled “How to Report a Hate Crime” that have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. The books were developed in partnership with Esther Lim, who has previously prepared similar books for police departments in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. Printed copies of the translated books are available at the Buffalo Grove Police Department, 46 Raupp Boulevard.

Digital copies of the books can be found at https://www.hatecrimebook.com/portfolio-2, and are available in the following languages:
• Albanian
• Simplified and Traditional Chinese
• English
• Japanese
• Korean
• Spanish
• Tagalog
• Thai
• Vietnamese

The books define hate crimes, explain the importance of reporting them, and recommend ways to avoid them. Contact information is provided for resources in Cook and Lake counties, as well as statewide agencies.

“These books are a valuable resource,” said Police Chief Steven Casstevens. “Access to this information should be inclusive, and we strive to provide excellent outreach to our diverse community.”

Funding for the books was provided by Holly Kim, the Lake County Treasurer and a member of the Illinois Asian American Caucus (AAC), as well as the Buffalo Grove Police Department.

“We have seen a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes,” said Kim. “It’s important we ensure communities know how to respond and report these incidents. Providing this information in Asian languages is crucial to ensuring everyone is reached and respected.”