On October 25, 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released Hate Crimes Statistics 2020. There were a staggering 8,052 hate crimes involving 11,126 victims. This total represents the highest number of hate crimes since 2008. In addition, it is an increase of 450 incidents from 2019.
Hate crimes against the LGBT community have been increasing in recent years. However, the FBI data show that hate crimes against several groups rose in 2020.
Who Are the Victims of Hate Crimes in the United States?
Crimes against people because of race make up the largest category of hate crimes. The breakdown of hate crimes per category for 2020 was:
- Race, ethnicity, & ancestry – 61.8%
- Sexual orientation – 20%
- Religion – 13.3 %
- Gender identity – 2.7%
- Disability – 1.4%
- Gender – 0.7%
Of the known offenders, 55.2% were Caucasian, and 20.2% were African American, according to the FBI data. Most hate crimes occurred near homes and residences.
What Types of Offenses Were Reported as Hate Crimes in 2020?
Over one-half of the hate crimes classified as crimes against people involved intimidation. There were 22 murders and 19 rapes reported as hate crimes. Just over 27% of hate crimes reported in 2020 involved simple assault. About 18% of the cases involved aggravated assault.
Just over 76% of the hate crimes against property were acts of vandalism, damage, or destruction of property. The remaining hate crimes against property included theft, arson, burglary, and motor vehicle theft.
Lack of Mandatory Reporting a Huge Problem in Tracking Actual Hate Crime Data
Sadly, these numbers are probably underreported. Law enforcement agencies are not required to report hate crimes to the FBI. As a result, more than 3,000 agencies across the country did not submit any hate crime statistics to the FBI in 2020.
Furthermore, prosecutors may decide when to charge someone with a hate crime. The FBI does not gather data on hate crimes from courts or local prosecutors.
A Special Report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that we experienced an average of 250,000 hate crime victimizations each year from 2004 through 2015. It is estimated that about 54% of hate crime victimizations were not reported to law enforcement from 2011 to 2015.
According to the report, 29% of the hate crimes were based on gender. Sexual orientation hate crimes made up 22 percent of the total.
Roughly 90 percent of the hate crimes between 2011 and 2015 involved violence, with 29% being serious violent crimes. Most hate crimes were simple assaults. Hate language was the overwhelming evidence reported by victims to identify the crime as a hate crime.
Therefore, the above statistics may only represent a fraction of the hate crimes against LGBT and other individuals in 2020. Hate crimes continue to increase despite new laws. Having accurate data regarding hate crimes is essential for targeting enforcement, education, and resources to stop hate crimes.
False Reports of Hate Crimes
To be sure, not all reports of hate crimes are legitimate. The incident involving actor Jussie Smullet is probably the most noteworthy example of this fact. Researchers suggest that between one and 15 percent of hate crimes are hoaxes.
Victims of false hate crime reports can suffer serious legal and financial consequences. Such individuals should contact a criminal defense lawyer for help defending any false allegations of hate crimes.
Additional Resources for Preventing and Responding to Hate Crimes
The U.S. Department of Justice announced in October 2021 that it intends to award over $21 million in grants to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. The grants will also be used to assist hate crime victims.
The announcement acknowledged the “alarming rise” in hate violent crimes committed on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, color, race, and national origin. In addition, the Department’s announcement coincided with the 12th anniversary of the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The Act was signed into law in 2009 by President Obama.
The Act was named for Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Matthew Shepard was a 21-year-old gay man from Wyoming who was tortured, beaten, and left to die. Mr. Byrd was a 49-year-old African American man who was tied to the back of a truck and dragged to his death in Texas.
More must be done to stop hate crimes against the LGBT community and other victims of hate crimes. Individuals and organizations must continue to push for legislation and policies that require mandatory reporting of hate crimes across the country. In addition, our law enforcement officers need better training to recognize hate crimes.
If you are the victim of a hate crime or witness a hate crime, call 911 for immediate help. Report the hate crime to the local police department. Also, submit a tip to the FBI online or by calling the local FBI Field Office.
At the heart of the matter continues to be the need for greater equality and inclusion throughout all communities and groups.
