What is a Hate Crime or Hate Incident?

Hate Crime - California Penal Code 422.55 defines a Hate Crime as any criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of the victim:

1. Disability.

2. Gender.

3. Nationality.

4. Race or ethnicity.

5. Religion.

6. Sexual orientation.

7. Association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

What can I do?

Should you believe that you are a victim of a "Hate Crime" OR you have witnessed a "Hate Crime", you are strongly encouraged to contact your local Police or Sheriff's Department. Be sure to provide specific details that would qualify the event as a hate crime (i.e., the use of racial or ethnic slurs by the perpetrator during the event). Provide as much detail as possible about the persons involved in the event and a description of their vehicle, if one was observed. All of this information will greatly assist in the investigation, and possible prosecution, of the perpetrators.

CALL 1-951-892-4834