Slight Rise in Reported O.C. Hate Crimes

Orange County recorded a slight increase in hate crimes over the last year, according to a state report released Thursday.

There were a total of 89 hate crime offenses reported in 1999, compared to 83 the year before, an increase of about 7%, the report stated. The crimes involved 143 victims, compared to 114 in 1998.

More than a quarter of all hate crimes in California last year occurred in Los Angeles, nearly three times as many as the next highest city.

The state’s 1,962 hate crimes, occurring at a rate of more than five a day last year, represent an increase of 12% over the previous year. The total is the second highest since California began keeping track in 1994, the report stated.

But last year’s figures may not reflect an actual increase, Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer said at a Thursday morning news conference. He said the spike may simply indicate an increased willingness by individuals and police agencies to report instances of hate.

“Whatever the truth, it’s too many,” Lockyer said.

State law defines a hate crime as any attempted criminal act “motivated by hatred based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability.” The state Department of Justice requires each law enforcement agency in California to submit copies of hate crime reports on a monthly basis.

Lockyer explained in the report why hate-motivated offenses are particularly deplorable: “Each hate crime is an attack on the victim’s personal identity or beliefs, leading to an ongoing fear of repeated attacks. . . . The perpetrator views their victim as lacking full human worth due to their skin color, language, religion, sexual orientation or disability.”