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Hate Crime Data Collection Guidelines

NCJ Number
170376
Date Published
Unknown
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This manual presents background information, definitions, and step-by-step instructions for collecting data on hate crimes at part of the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program.
Abstract
The Hate Crime Statistics Act of 1990 required the Attorney General to establish guidelines and collect, as part of the UCR program, data about crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on race, religion, sexual orientation. The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1990 amended the law to add both physical and mental disabilities as factors that could be considered a basis for hate crimes. Hate crime data can be collected by gathering additional information about offenses being reported to UCR. Bias is to be reported only if investigation reveals sufficient objective facts to lead a reasonable and prudent person to conclude that the offender's actions were motivated wholly or partly by bias. The facts of case must be individually assessed; agencies must also be alert to misleading or feigned facts. Two formats have been developed for reporting hate crime data. Definitions, case examples, and appended forms