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.
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:
- 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
- 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 continuing demographic change in the United States as the population becomes more diverse.
- The continuing shift to a service economy and the economic uncertainties that provides a source of conflict between groups.
- Prevalence of negative stereotypes in our culture, as well as an atmosphere of intolerance in politics and public debate.
- 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.
- Lack of hope among some ethnic groups.
- The skin color black represents the group most frequently victimized by bias crimes.
- The Jewish religion represents the religious group crimes.
- The gay and lesbian community.
- Immigrants and all other ethnic groups
- Harassment
- Terroristic Threats
- Criminal Mischief
- Assault
- Arson
- Homicide
- The name and address of the victim
- The time and place where the crime occurred
- The type of crime committed.
- The description and license plate number of vehicle involved in crime.
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
These statutes prohibit vandalism and other willful property damage to churches, synagogues and cemeteries. These laws have been enacted in approximately 40 states.
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 Department | Telephone | Fax |
|---|---|---|
| Berkeley Heights | 908-464-1111 | 908-464-7076 |
| Clark | 732-388-3434 | 732-388-5376 |
| Cranford | 908-272-2222 | 908-709-7341 |
| Elizabeth | 908-558-2000 | 908-558-0048 |
| Fanwood | 908-322-5000 | 908-322-2200 |
| Garwood | 908-789-1500 | 908-789-2804 |
| Hillside | 973-926-5800 | 973-926-0677 |
| Kenilworth | 908-276-1700 | 908-276-1822 |
| Linden | 908-474-8500 | 908-474-8533 |
| Mountainside | 908-232-8100 | 908-232-2234 |
| New Providence | 908-665-1111 | 908-665-9873 |
| Plainfield | 908-753-3360 | 908-753-3476 |
| Rahway | 732-388-1900 | 732-382-6113 |
| Roselle | 908-245-2000 | 908-241-9543 |
| Roselle Park | 908-245-2300 | 908-298-1111 |
| Scotch Plains | 908-322-7100 | 908-322-2762 |
| Springfield | 973-376-0400 | 973-912-0538 |
| Summit | 908-273-0051 | 908-273-8002 |
| Union Township | 908-686-0700 | 908-851-5442 |
| Westfield | 908-789-4000 | 908-789-4007 |
| Winfield Park | 908-925-3852 | 908-925-4526 |
| Union County | 908-654-9800 | 908-654-9872 |
| Union County Prosecutor’s Office | 908-527-4500 | 908-527-4625 |
| NJ Attorney General’s Bias Crime Initiative | 1-800-277-BIAS (2427) | N/A |
| New Jersey State Police | 609-882-2000 | N/A |