As part of the project Improved Response to Hate Speech through Legal Research, Advocacy and Training – REASON, empirical research is being conducted on the population of hate speech cases in Croatia in the period from 2016 to 2021. The research is conducted using the methods of content analysis of misdemeanor and criminal case files and focus groups.
During the first half of May, five focus groups were held. One group interview was conducted with each of the following groups: police officers, state attorneys, criminal judges and misdemeanor judges, while the final group consisted of representatives of all of the mentioned four professional groups. Two focus groups were held in person – with police officers from several police administrations at the Police Academy and a multi-professional one in the premises of the Croatian Law Centre.
During the discussion, the most important issues and dilemmas identified through the earlier stages of the research were discussed, and the participants shared their experiences and practices in the prosecution of criminal and misdemeanor hate speech.
The results of the focus groups will be integrated into the final research report, which will be published in early July 2024.