A hate crime is a traditional offense that is motivated by bias. A person commits a hate crime when one of a specified set of crimes is committed targeting a victim because of a perception or belief about their race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation, or when such an act is committed as a result of that type of perception or belief. These crimes can target an individual, a group of individuals or public or private property.
Hate crimes can be perpetrated against an individual, a group, or against public or private property. For example, hanging a noose or painting a swastika could be deemed hate crimes.
The New York State Human Rights Law, the first of its kind in the nation, prohibits discrimination in employment, apprenticeship and training, purchase and rental of housing and commercial space, places of public accommodation, certain educational institutions, and credit transactions based upon protected characteristics such as race, color, creed, sex, age, disability, national origin, marital status, familial status, conviction or arrest record, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status or gender dysphoria.
The New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS) also provides assistance to victims of hate crimes. OVS funds 212 programs statewide that provide direct services, such as crisis intervention and counseling, to victims of crime, including those physically injured as a result of a hate crime. Those programs also help any victim of crime apply for compensation and other assistance from the agency, which is a safety net for individuals who have no other resources. Individuals seeking help from OVS also can search for a service provider online: ovs.ny.concerncenter.com. For more information, please visit: www.ovs.ny.gov.
Per New York State Executive Law § 837(4)(c), the Division of Criminal Justice Services is required to collect and analyze statistical and all other information and data with respect to hate crimes reported by law enforcement through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. DCJS produces an annual report which details hate crime incidents that law enforcement agencies have reported to DCJS, including data on the number of incidents and type of bias reported. DCJS also submits the data to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its collection and publication.
Hate crime incidents by reporting agency can be found at the Division of Criminal Justice Services website.