FBI reports 11.6 percent increase in hate crimes across US News
Becker1999 from Grove City, OH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
FBI reports 11.6 percent increase in hate crimes across US

The FBI Monday released new hate crime statistics which showed an 11.6 percent rise in hate crimes from 2020 to 2021.

A transition to a new reporting system meant that there was an initial decrease in data recorded in the FBI’s annual report. The supplemental report released Monday provides “a more complete picture” of reported hate crime incidents in the US.

Overall, reported hate crime incidents increased 11.6 percent from 8,120 in 2020 to 9,065 in 2021. The largest increases were reported by agencies operating in jurisdictions with populations of over 1 million; hate crimes reported by these agencies increased 51 percent.

Distribution of victims by bias type shows that 64.5 percent of victims were targeted because of their race, ethnicity or ancestry, which was the largest motivating factor. This represents an increase of 58.2 percent in racially-motivated hate crimes from 2020 to 2021. This increase was largely seen due to the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes. However, the majority of incidents reported targeted Black victims.

Race was followed by sexual orientation at 15.9 percent, which saw the largest increase at 62.8 percent, and religion at a 14.1 percent rise, predominantly against those of Jewish faith.

The majority of hate crime offenses were classified as crimes against persons. 43.2 percent were intimidation, 35.5 percent were simple assault and 20.1 percent were aggravated assault.

Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta stated that the report demonstrates the FBI’s “unwavering commitment”  and that the prosecution of hate crimes is a “top priorit[y]” for the Justice Department. “Hate crimes and the devastation they cause communities have no place in this country,” she continued.

The FBI transitioned from the United Crime Reporting Program (UCR) to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) during the reporting period, following recommendations. However, the initial report was incomplete, with thousands of law enforcement agencies failing to submit data to the new system in time, including some of the largest such as the New York and Los Angeles police departments.

NIBRS allows the FBI to produce estimates for a wider variety of offenses and crime characteristics collected. It has been described as a more “streamlined method” to report crime data “leading to more effective resource allocation and improved public safety.”

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.