What are Hate Crimes?

A hate crime is any criminal act or attempted criminal act directed against a person or persons based on the victim’s actual or perceived race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability or gender.

Examples of hate crimes include:

• Acts which result in injury, even if the injury is slight.
• Threats of violence that looks like they can be carried out.
• Acts which result in property damage.
• Any criminal act or attempted criminal act, including property damage, directed against public or private agencies.