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HateCrimeReport2013_FINAL
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- 2. A Message from theCommission W e believe that ALL people should live free from harassment, discrimination and violence based on race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, disability or other arbitrary aspect of their being. Over the last 43 years, the OC Human Relations Commission has helped people who have faced prejudice, intolerance and discrimination and sought to educate all residents about bigotry. In publishing this 23rd annual report on Hate Crime, a picture emerges that life in our community is experienced differently by some of our residents. For example: n A synagogue was defaced with Swastikas n While at the market, an African American man was assaulted and choked while being called “n----r” n A Muslim woman had her hijab torn from her head as she was screamed at with epithets n A Gay man was punched in the stomach and called “f----t” as he was warned to stay away from the neighborhood or die n A Latino man was labeled a “wet---” and cursed with profanity as his life was threatened n An Asian youth was called “g—k” while a knife was pulled on him In a year when we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, it is imperative that we learn of these instances when our society falls far short of equality. That we document when people resort to criminal behavior as an expression of their hate. That we take action to look out for our neighbors, who because of their differences, are being singled out and attacked in efforts to drive them from our communities. So when you look at the 2013 hate crime numbers gathered through work with local police and community organizations, remember that each one is about an individual or family for whom the promise of our community was denied based on their race, religion, sexual orientation or other aspect of their being. For the Commission I am, Carol Turpen, Chair OC Human Relations Commission 2 Hate Crime Down to the Lowest Point in Over a Decade n Hate Crime in Orange County fell nearly 20% in 2013. Forty-nine hate crimes were reported in 2013, down from 61 in 2012. This represents about half as many as were reported 10 years ago in 2004. Increased Number of Violent Hate Crimes n While overall hate crime is down, this is primarily a reduction in vandalism. Hate crimes against persons are actually up from 24 in 2012 to 28 in 2013. Hate Crime Targets by Community n African Americans were the targets of 11 reported hate crimes in 2013, making them the most frequently targeted group, as they have been almost every year since the OC Human Relations Commission started documenting hate crime in 1991. Twenty-two percent of reported hate crimes targeted African Americans who comprise approximately two percent of the Orange County Population. n Sexual Orientation crimes targeting individuals perceived to be Gay or Lesbian fell from 13 in 2012 to seven in 2013 after a steady rise since 2010. n Hate crimes targeting Muslims/Arabs rose from four in 2012 to six in 2013, reversing a three-year downward trend. n Reported hate crimes targeting Jews fell over 50% from 11 in 2012 to five in 2013. n The number of hate crimes against Latinos fell 50% from six in 2012 to three in 2013. n Three reported hate crimes targeted Christians in 2013, up from zero in 2012. n There was one reported hate crime against Asians/Pacific Islanders continuing a four-year downward trend from seven in 2009. Crimes Motivated
- 3. 3 0 5 10 15 20 25 20132012201120102009200820072006200520042003 78 496156777982101969976 Af Ga Je Mu La As W Ch Mu 4961 Note: Christiansand Multiple are not included in the graph data. 0 5 10 15 20 25 20132012201120102009200820072006200520042003 78 496156777982101969976 African American Gay/Lesbian Jewish Muslim/Arab Latino Asian/Pacific Islander White Christians Multiple Targets 4961 Note: Christians and Multiple are not included in the graph data. by Hate Down in 2013 Main Targets of Hate Crime 2003 to 2013 Total Number of Hate Crimes per Year
- 4. 4 Hate Crime Motivation n Race and ethnicity continued to be the most common motivation for hate crimes, accounting for 37.5% in 2013. n Religion closely followed as the motive in 29% of hate crimes. n Fifteen percent were motivated based on perceived Sexual Orientation. n Multiple motivations accounted for 19% (which refers to crimes that target more than one community, commonly through graffiti or hate literature). Hate Crime Types by Offense n Destruction/Vandalism comprised 44% of all hate crimes making it the most common type of offense in 2013. Crimes against persons (assaults, criminal threats, and robbery) rose from 39% in 2012 to 57% of hate crimes committed in 2013. Perpetrators by Gender n In 2013 over 60% of hate crimes were committed by unknown perpetrators. Of the 31 known perpetrators, 84% were males. Note: Most perpetrators of hate crime are unknown. Hate crimes are committed by people of all colors, ages, and backgrounds. In addition to males being the most common perpetrator, Whites and those under the age of 19 comprise the majority of known perpetrators of hate crime. To the Residents of Orange County I t gives me great pleasure to once again commend the Orange County Human Relations Commission for bringing the people of Orange County together to engage in dialog and effective community response to hate-based aggression. The network of community groups and law enforcement agencies that participate in the work of your Commission is a model for what is possible when the community rallies to causes as important as combating hate and fostering understanding. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As we commemorate the progress we have made as a result of that historic Act, we must also recommit ourselves to securing civil rights for all Californians, including the right to be free from discrimination or assault because of one’s heritage or other personal characteristics. This is especially true in a county as diverse as yours and a state as diverse as ours. I am committed to using every tool available to me to oppose bigotry in all of its forms, including hate and intimidation based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability, ethnicity or other inalienable characteristics. We know that the best way to achieve good results is through the effective use of data such as that which is compiled and published in your annual report on hate crime in Orange County, and by the annual report published by my office, “Hate Crime in California.” This data allows us to track hate crime and hate incidents and to direct community responses and law enforcement resources to these incidents. Smart use of our limited resources reduces hate crime and hate incidents and increases the quality of life for all of our citizens. I thank you for your efforts to bring about a more equitable, just and understanding California. Sincerely, Kamala D. Harris Attorney General, State of California
- 5. 5 0 5 1015 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 2012 2013 Unknown Male Female 5 8 53 41 26 42 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 2012 2013 Multiple Motivations Gender Religion Sexual Orientation Race, Ethnicity, National Origin 19 22 14 16 9 10 0 0 7 13 0 55 10 15 20 25 30 35 2012 2013 Robbery Criminal Threat Aggravated Assault Simple Assault Vandalism/Destruction 21 7 7 1 1 6 4 14 12 37 Hate Crime by Motivation Hate Crime Types Hate Crime Perpetrators Hate Crime by Location 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 2012 2013 College School Place of Worship Business Public Area Residence 7 1 3 3 16 12 13 1 5 5 19 24
- 6. Hate Crime (P.C.§ 422.6) Definitions Methodology A hate crime is a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of the victim: disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group of people with one or more of the preceding actual or perceived characteristics. Under California law there are enhanced penalties for these types of crimes. Hate Incident A “hate incident” is a type of speech, act, or action that targets, threatens, or attacks an individual or group of individuals based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, gender, or disability, or their association with someone from these protected groups. Hate incidents are non-criminal in nature and are protected by the First Amendment’s free speech provisions. The Constitution allows for hateful rhetoric as long as it does not interfere with the rights of others. OC Human Relations tracks hate incidents as indicators of potential problems and hate activity, where more serious crimes might follow, and preventative interventions might be effective. Examples of hate incidents that slander groups based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, gender, or disability are: verbal abuse/profanity, offensive jokes, name calling, using slurs, threatening behavior such as intimidation, abusive correspondence by letter, e-mail, video, social networking sites, phone calls, text messages, demeaning written material such as caricatures of a certain group, and displaying symbols such as the swastika. The number of reported hate incidents rose from 12 in 2011 to 20 in 2012. Predominant targets of reported hate incidents in 2012 were Muslims and Jews, with 5 each. African Americans were targets of 4 incidents. This report provides a statistical overview of reported hate crimes and incidents that occurred in Orange County during 2012. It is important to note that it only represents reported hate crimes and incidents. There are a number of factors that lead the Commission to conclude that the information contained in this report underrepresents the actual number of hate-motivated crimes and incidents that took place. The cases documented by the Commission are crosschecked to eliminate duplication caused, for example, by a hate crime being reported by a law enforcement agency and a community group. While the numbers reported do not represent every hate crime and incident that occurred, this information has been collected in the same manner for the last 22 years. Based on that consistent data collection, the Commission views this report as an important indicator of prejudice, intolerance, discrimination and bigotry over time. Because some communities and/or juris-dictions are more painstaking than others in documenting hate crimes and incidents it is not always meaningful to compare one community against another. For example, a community that actively promotes awareness around the importance of documenting hate crimes and incidents may report greater numbers than another community. However, this does not necessarily indicate that the community has a higher rate of hate crimes and incidents. Also, there are differences in the way some jurisdictions interpret the circumstances in which possible hate crimes and incidents occurred; therefore, a hate crime or incident might be counted in one city but will not be in another. Other factors that might lead to underreporting include: a lack of knowledge about the justice system, cultural and language barriers, fear of reprisals, insecurity about immigration status, lack of community organizations, or mistrust of government agencies. 6
- 7. OC District AttorneySummary of Hate Cases for 2013 Agencies Providing Data n Twenty cases were referred to the district attorney’s office. n Eleven referred cases were rejected for filing of any charges. n Three cases referred as hate crimes were charged as other than a hate crime. n Six cases were filed as hate crimes. n Six hate crime cases resulted in guilty pleas (this includes cases that may have been filed in prior years). n None of these cases resulted in trial verdicts (none of these cases went to trial in 2012). Organizations Anti-Defamation League Community Service Program, Inc. Council on American Islamic Relations NAACP of Orange County Orange County District Attorney’s Office Orange County Human Relations Commission Schools, Universities and Colleges Anaheim City School District Brea Olinda Unified School District Buena Park School District Capistrano Unified School District Cypress School District Garden Grove Unified School District Huntington Beach City School District Los Alamitos Unified School District Lowell Joint School District Magnolia School District Newport-Mesa Unified School District Ocean View School District Orange Coast College Saddleback College Santa Ana College Soka University University of California, Irvine City Police Departments Anaheim Brea Buena Park Costa Mesa Cypress Fountain Valley Fullerton Garden Grove Huntington Beach Irvine La Habra La Palma Laguna Beach Newport Beach Orange Placentia Santa Ana Seal Beach Tustin Westminster Orange County Sheriff’s Department Representing: Aliso Viejo Dana Point Laguna Hills Laguna Niguel Laguna Woods Lake Forest Mission Viejo Rancho Santa Maragarita San Clemente Seal Beach Stanton Villa Park Yorba Linda Unincorporated areas of Orange County 7
- 8. African Am erican African Am erican Arab/M iddle Eastern rab/M iddle Eastern Arab/ M uslim Latino W hite M uslim Latino W hite Gay/Lesbian/Transgender Gay/Lesbian/Transgender GaM ultiple M otive tiple M otive M ultiple Jew ish Christian Jew ish Christia Asian/Pacific Islander cific Islander Asian/Pacific Isl SexualOrientation SexualOrientation Religion Race/Ethnicity/NationalOrigin Vandalism /PropertyDestruction AggravatedAssault Robbery Crim inalTh read Gender OC Boardof Supervisors Shawn Nelson, Chair, Fourth District Patricia C. Bates, Vice-Chair, Fifth District John M.W. Moorlach, Second District Janet Nguyen, First District Todd Spitzer, Third District Mike Giancola, County Executive Officer Steve Franks, OC Community Resources Director OC Human Relations Commission Carol Turpen, Chair Kenneth Inouye, Vice-Chair Ruben Barron, Ed.D. Nadia Saad Bettendorf Becky Esparza Timothy M. Kowal Col. Leslie K. Le Chief Dave Maggard Bang Van Pham Rev. Dave Rader Rabbi Rick Steinberg C. William Wood Doug Wooley This report was produced by OC Human Relations Staff James Armendaris Alison Edwards Barbara Hunt Rusty Kennedy Jennifer Silkenson Matthew Alivio Special Thanks to Susan S. Reese Design for the graphic art. 1300 South Grand Avenue, Building B, Santa Ana, California 92705 ~ 714-567-7470 www.ochumanrelations.org To Report a Hate Crime, Dial 1-714-567-7470