Bolstered hate crimes data collection, reporting sought

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is advocating federal lawmakers and law enforcement agencies enhance hate crimes data collection and reporting in the wake of incidents rising.

The ADL said the call to action stems from the FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics Act (HCSA) report, determining 2019 was the deadliest year on record with 51 hate crime murders – representing a 113 percent increase over the previous record of 24 established two years ago.

“When one individual is targeted by a hate crime, it hurts the whole community—that’s why people are feeling vulnerable and afraid,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said. “We urge Congress to immediately pass the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act to improve hate crime training, prevention, reporting, and best practices.”

The ADL cited the FBI report detailing total hate crime incidents rose to 7,314 in 2019, marking the fourth increase in the past five years. Additionally, after declining in 2018, religion-based hate crimes increased by 7 percent, per the report, with 63 percent of the total number of reported religion-based hate crimes being directed at Jews and Jewish institutions.

“The total severity of the impact and damage caused by hate crimes cannot be fully measured without complete participation in the FBI’s data collection process,” Greenblatt said. “We are working with our partners to improve hate crime data reporting. While some of the increase in 2019 may be the product of better reporting in some jurisdictions, it is critical to improve training at local law enforcement agencies across the country.”

Greenblatt also called for the removal of barriers preventing those people in marginalized communities from reporting hate-based incidents.

“In this pivotal moment in our national conversation about the importance of justice for communities of color, religious minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community, we must make combating hate crimes a top priority.”