Remain Watchful for Hate Crime

On average, every third day last year a hate crime was reported in Orange County. That may seem like a lot of incidents, and it is, but the 122 crimes reported in 2000 represented an 11% decrease from 1999--and it was the lowest level of cases reported in more than a decade.

Why the decrease? Officials generally cite the healthy economy as a factor when there is a drop in reported crimes of all kinds. The rationale in hate crimes is that when times are good and people aren’t out of work, they aren’t looking for scapegoats to blame for their troubles.

Other factors such as major news events also can have an influence. But the one that is most encouraging as a possible reason for the drop in reported hate crimes is the one cited by Rusty Kennedy, executive director of the Orange County Human Relations Commission.

Kennedy, and others, say the drop also shows that people are beginning to better accept the ethnic diversity that now characterizes the Orange County community. Signs of that acceptance are evident in everyday county life as well as in the crime statistics.

But the statistics also have a downside. Woefully few perpetrators of hate crimes are ever caught. Of the 122 cases in the county last year, only three were prosecuted by the district attorney, and three others are under investigation.

More disturbing is the number of hate crimes that go unreported. No one can put a number on that, but those dealing with them generally agree that unreported crimes far exceed those brought to the public’s attention.

Low reporting could indicate either a drop in crime or an unwillingness to talk to authorities about it. Orange County has a good network of groups that report hate crime incidents. However, it’s important for law enforcement and social service agencies to identify potential victims and for actual victims to report incidents to the Human Relations Commission or police agencies. Programs already instituted in the schools are a good way to teach tolerance and reduce potential incidents.

The report of last year’s incidents is a reminder of the continued need for vigilance to make Orange County safe for all its residents.