Identifying & Understanding Bias Crime

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Identifying and Understanding

 

The mission of the Bias Crime Unit, located within the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, is the statewide coordination of efforts to eliminate crimes motivated by prejudice against others based on race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability or ethnicity.

The Bias Crime Guide is designed to provide our citizens with useful and pertinent information to assist them in identifying, fighting, and eliminating Bias and Hate Crimes in the State of New Jersey.

Only through the committed, collaborative efforts of all concerned will we be able to create a society free of bias and prejudice.

 

What is a Bias or Hate Crime?

A person is guilty of a bias intimidation crime under New Jersey law if he commits, attempts to commit, conspires with another to commit, or threatens the immediate commission of an offense with the purpose to intimidate an individual or group of individuals because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity.

Such an offense also constitutes a bias intimidation crime if the manner in which the offense is committed causes the victim to reasonably believe either:

  1. that the offense was committed with a purpose to intimidate the victim because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity; or
  2. that the victim or his property was selected to be the target because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity.

These offenses are a distinctive category and are more likely to involve a heightened assault and injury level or serial attacks of escalating severity. There are often multiple assailants and the victims generally do not know their offenders. As a result of these offenses, there is often a spiral of community violence and extended psychological trauma for victims.

The Underlying Causes of Bias & Hate Crimes
  1. The continuing demographic change in the United States as the population becomes more diverse.
  2. The continuing shift to a service economy and the economic uncertainties that provides a source of conflict between groups.
  3. Prevalence of negative stereotypes in our culture, as well as an atmosphere of intolerance in politics and public debate.
  4. Racial division among our youth and in schools, the persistence and continued vitality of hate groups, and continued violence by minorities against members of their own race.
  5. Lack of hope among some ethnic groups.
Who Are Often Victims?
  1. The skin color black represents the group most frequently victimized by bias crimes.
  2. The Jewish religion represents the religious group crimes.
  3. The gay and lesbian community.
  4. Immigrants and all other ethnic groups
Types of Bias / Hate Crimes:
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  • Harassment
  • Terroristic Threats
  • Criminal Mischief
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  • Assault
  • Arson
  • Homicide
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Information Needed When Reporting a Hate Crime
  1. The name and address of the victim
  2. The time and place where the crime occurred
  3. The type of crime committed.
  4. The description and license plate number of vehicle involved in crime.
  5. A description of the perpetrator – i.e., race, sex, height, weight, scars, tattoos, hair color and style, clothing and jewelry. Provide the name or street name if known.
Laws Protecting People Against Bias or Hate Crimes

Since 1979, nearly every State in the United States has enacted some form of bias crime statute. The most common statues are penalty enhancement and criminal civil rights statues. Other types of statues include institutional vandalism laws, cross-burning statutes, anti-masking laws and laws prohibiting interference with religious worship.

Penalty Enhancements Statutes

These statutes increase the penalty for existing criminal offenses when a victim is targeted, based in whole or in part on the perception or beliefs of the actor, because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity of that person, owner or occupant of that property, regardless of whether or not the perpetrator’s belief was correct.

Civil Rights & Ethnic Intimidation Statutes

Unlike the penalty enhancements, these statutes do not require the charging of an underlying offense, such as an assault. However, prosecutors still have the option of charging additional offenses, such as assault, when applicable.

Institutional Vandalism Statutes

These statutes prohibit vandalism and other willful property damage to churches, synagogues and cemeteries. These laws have been enacted in approximately 40 states.

How to Report a Bias/Hate Crime
Always Dial 911 To Report A Crime In Progress!

If you need to report an emergency situation, dial 9-1-1!

To report a Bias Crime, or if you believe you are a target of bias crime, REPORT IT! Contact the Union County Prosecutor’s Bias Crime Unit at 1-800-527-4500. You can also call the State Bias Crime Unit at 1-800-277-BIAS (2427).

Police DepartmentTelephoneFax
Berkeley Heights908-464-1111908-464-7076
Clark732-388-3434732-388-5376
Cranford908-272-2222908-709-7341
Elizabeth908-558-2000908-558-0048
Fanwood908-322-5000908-322-2200
Garwood908-789-1500908-789-2804
Hillside973-926-5800973-926-0677
Kenilworth908-276-1700908-276-1822
Linden908-474-8500908-474-8533
Mountainside908-232-8100908-232-2234
New Providence908-665-1111908-665-9873
Plainfield908-753-3360908-753-3476
Rahway732-388-1900732-382-6113
Roselle908-245-2000908-241-9543
Roselle Park908-245-2300908-298-1111
Scotch Plains908-322-7100908-322-2762
Springfield973-376-0400973-912-0538
Summit908-273-0051908-273-8002
Union Township908-686-0700908-851-5442
Westfield908-789-4000908-789-4007
Winfield Park908-925-3852908-925-4526
Union County908-654-9800 908-654-9872
Union County
Prosecutor’s Office
908-527-4500908-527-4625
NJ Attorney General’s
Bias Crime Initiative
1-800-277-BIAS (2427)N/A
New Jersey
State Police
609-882-2000N/A