The Pennsylvania Inter-Agency Task Force on Civil Tension is convened monthly by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission to review the Bias-Related Incidents reported during the previous month. The knowledge, skills and resources of participating agencies are then brought to bear, especially for those incidents that have created or will likely create significant inter-group tension.

The Task Force develops and assists local communities to implement strategies for both prevention and response. Relationships among Task Force members are strengthened in order to facilitate and enhance the exchange of information and counsel regarding inter-group problems and solutions. The Task Force also participates in the development and presentation of numerous training initiatives for law enforcement, municipal officials and community leaders.

The Inter-Governmental Response Team, a sub-group of the Task Force, provides immediate response to schools and communities that are experiencing severe inter-group tension.

The following is a listing of the purposes and activities of the Pennsylvania Inter-Agency Task Force on Civil Tension:

• Reduce tensions and violence between individuals and groups related to characteristics such as race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
• Receive reports of Bias-Related Incidents and monitor situations that might develop into interpersonal or inter-group tension or violence.
• Help prevent or resolve the problems that cause such tension.
• Assist law enforcement, local government officials and community leaders and organizations as they address problems causing such tension.
• Participate in the development and implementation of short-range and long-range plans and strategies to address the problems that cause such tension.
• Provide assistance to the victims and the aggrieved community in tension situations.
• Develop and maintain an effective working relationship with Local State, Federal and private agencies with responsibilities related to tension situations.
• Mobilize the technical assistance and other resources of the Task Force agencies to achieve the purposes of the Task Force.
• Respond to tension situations with maximum communication, cooperation, and coordination among the agencies represented on the Task Force and with local government officials and community groups and representatives.
• Monitor and analyze the nature and incidence of Bias-Related Incidents and tension situations in the Commonwealth.
• Enhance both public awareness and effective enforcement of Pennsylvania's "Hate Crime" statute, the Ethnic Intimidation and Institutional Vandalism Act.
• Establish a standardized system of identifying and reporting Bias-Related Incidents, including possible violations of the Ethnic Intimidation and Institutional Vandalism Act.
• Evaluate and recommend legislation relevant to the purposes of the Task Force