The Hate Crimes Task Force was created in 2018 to address the rise in bias-motivated threats, harassment, and violence across New York State.
Hate crimes are crimes that are motivated in whole or in substantial part by the identification of a person, a group or a place with a race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, ancestry, national origin or sexual orientation in particular.
The 2018 Law Enforcement and Criminal Activity Report has been amended to include the race / ethnicity of hate crime victims, suspects, and detainees. Click here to view the criminal activity and enforcement reports.
Led by the State Police with the assistance of the State Division of Human Rights and the Division of Criminal Justice Services, the Task Force works together to prevent, investigate and monitor hate crimes and violations of the Human Rights Law. .
The Task Force works in collaboration with local law enforcement and prosecutors. References are received from these entities, as well as from the hotline, the text line, and various other channels.
WHAT IS A HATE CRIME?
Pursuant to New York State Criminal Law, the New York City Police Department uses the following guideline to identify hate crimes and incidents of bias:
“An incident of prejudice is any crime or illegal act that is motivated in whole or in substantial part by a person, the identification of a group or place with a race, color, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, ancestry, particular national origin or sexual orientation (including gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender) as determined by the commanding officer of the Hate Crimes Task Force. “
Hate crimes can have consequences that go far beyond the criminal act itself. Becoming a victim of a crime is traumatic, but if the act was committed because of who you are or what you believe, rape is even more hurtful and can have profound emotional impacts.
All hate crimes are serious incidents and are treated as such by the Police Department. Hate crimes are vigorously investigated by the New York Police Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force.
HOW TO REPORT A HATE CRIME
A person reports a hate crime in the same way that they would report any other crime. If it is an ongoing felony, call 911. If it is a non-felony or a crime that occurred in the past, call your local police station. Responding police officers will provide immediate assistance as needed and begin the reporting process. If the situation is deemed to be a potential bias-motivated incident, the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force will be notified.
Upon notification of a possible hate crime, detectives from the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force will respond and conduct a thorough investigation. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is a dedicated city-wide team of investigators that is responsible for investigating all hate crimes and related incidents that occur within the city. Hate crime victims can be assured that their local community Affairs team and the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force will provide appropriate assistance. People’s immigration status in no way prevents them from reporting hate crimes or receiving essential services.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION VS. HATE CRIME
Freedom of expression is protected by our Constitution. Everyone has the right to express their likes, dislikes and opinions, no matter how offensive these expressions may be to others. Ultimately, hateful or offensive speech remains just speech and is protected.
A hate crime is a criminal act that is motivated in whole or in substantial part by the perceived identity of the victim. For example, when a person calls another person with an insulting name, it is only a name and not a crime, even if the name is hateful and offensive. This type of insults is generally protected as freedom of expression.
On the contrary, if someone calls a person with a hateful name just because of their identity and also attacks them, the assault is a crime and the motivation makes the act also a hate crime. The hate crime designation can also be applied to other crimes, such as criminal mischief and graffiti, such as painting racial slurs or swastikas on public or private property or desecrating cemeteries associated with particular racial or religious groups. Free speech protections end with the commission of a criminal act, and hate speech or writing along with a crime is a hate crime.
Remember: To report an ongoing hate crime or any emergency, call 911. Non-emergency situations should be reported to the local police station.
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