Crimes of hate are acts or threats of violence or harassment directed against an individual or group and motivated totally or partly by hostility to their real or perceived race, ethnic background, national origin, religious belief, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation. A recent Federally sponsored study of hate crime showed that hate crime is widespread and increasing. Perpetrators are either members of extremist groups or people acting individually or in loosely organized groups. Victims are mainly blacks, Hispanics, Southeast Asians, Jews, and homosexuals. National efforts against hate crime have included proposed legislation, actions by the United States Department of Justice, statements, data collection efforts, training, and development of model human rights curricula. State responses have included legislation, task forces, study groups, prosecutorial efforts, victim assistance, and curricula. Local responses have generally included law enforcement efforts, municipal and private efforts to document hate crime, local crisis services for victims, local education efforts, and allocation of special prosecutorial resources to hate crimes. Despite the increasing problem, workable prevention and response models have been established, and pilot projects have been successfully implemented. Lists of sources of resources and a case study from one California county are included. 29 references.