This page provides information on the national frameworks to address hate crime in the United States. The information provided here should be viewed alongside data presented on the hate crime report page of the United States.

Hate crime recording and data collection

The Hate Crime Statistics Act requires the collection and publication of hate crime data. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is responsible for hate crime data collection. 

The Bureau of Justice Statistics at the Department of Justice collects administrative records for federal crimes through the Federal Justice Statistics Program, relying on records of the Executive Office of United States Attorneys, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, and the United States Sentencing Commission. The records include the number of defendants charged with a federal hate crime, the number sentenced under a federal hate crime offence, and the number who received a hate crime sentencing enhancement.

The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program serves as the national repository for the collection of crime statistics. As required by the Hate Crime Statistics Act, the UCR's Hate Crime Statistics Data Collection provides information on crimes motivated by bias against "race", gender, gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. Data collection is voluntary for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, but is mandatory for federal law enforcement. 

UCR data are collected through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) or Summary Reporting System (SRS). The NIBRS captures details about every crime incident – as well as about separate offences within the same incident – including information on victims, known offenders, relationships between victims and offenders, arrestees, and the property involved in crimes. Unlike data reported through the UCR Program's Summary Reporting System (SRS) – an aggregate monthly tally of crimes – the NIBRS also collects information on the circumstances and context of crimes, including the location, time of day, and whether the incident was cleared. Hate crime data are derived from the NIBRS. Hate crime data are not limited to data about violations of hate crimes statutes but include any traditional NIBRS criminal offence that is motivated by bias based on "race", religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.

In August 2025, the FBI's UCR Program released the first iteration of monthly crime and law enforcement data via the Crime Data Explorer (CDE) website. These monthly updates replace quarterly releases, and include data from the NIBRS, the Summary Reporting System, and the Hate Crime Statistics Program. The CDE's Hate Crime page displays data submitted to the FBI up to the 14th day of the most recently released month.

The Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics regularly conducts a National Crime Victimization Survey, with the most recent data on hate crime victimization available for 2024.

Hate crime victim support

The United States provides specialized support to victims of hate crime. Victims of hate crime are entitled to the same rights as victims of other federal crimes. 

The Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crimes (OVC) funds the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act State-Run Hate Crime Reporting Hotlines program, which authorizes grants for states to create hate crime reporting hotlines. Currently this programme funds hotlines for victims of hate crimes in California, Nevada, Illinois, and Washington State.

Through its Antiterrorism Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP), OVC also provides resources and assistance directly to communities and victims affected by terrorism and mass violence, which may include hate crimes. These grants help victims to: build adaptive capacities, decrease stressors, and reduce symptoms of trauma immediately following an incident; recover and regain their ability to function; participate in investigations or prosecutions directly related to the incident; and access reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses related to their victimization through state crime victim compensation programmes.

Pursuant to the Victims' Rights and Restitution Act (VRRA), at the earliest opportunity, a responsible official shall provide identified victims with information about services available to them, including referrals to available emergency medical and social services and programmes so that victims can access counselling, treatment, and other support. The responsibility for providing a victim with referrals for services during the investigation lies with the investigative agency. Once an investigation has been transferred to the prosecutorial entity, the responsible officials are required to ensure that referrals for services are made, while also co-ordinating any existing and new referrals to ensure consistency, avoid duplication of services, and meet the best interests of the victim and the case. 

The VRRA entitles victims to a number of mandatory services, including: reasonable protection from the offender and persons acting in concert with the offender; notice about the status of the investigation and certain information related to investigation, prosecution, and corrections; and a separate waiting area from the defendant and defence witnesses during court proceedings. Victims are also entitled to have personal property that is held for evidentiary purposes maintained in good condition and returned as soon as it is no longer needed.

Additionally, victims are entitled to participatory rights under the Crime Victims' Rights Act (CVRA). Specifically, the CVRA affords victims with the following rights: the right to be reasonably protected from the accused; the right to receive reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused; the right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding unless decided otherwise by the court; the right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding; the right to confer with the attorney for the government in the case; the right to receive full and timely restitution as provided in law; the right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay; the right be treated with fairness and with respect for their dignity and privacy; the right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement; and the right to be informed of these rights, VRRA services and the contact information of the Office of the Victims' Rights Ombudsman of the Department of Justice. The Office of the Victims' Rights Ombudsman within the Executive Office for United States Attorneys receives and investigates complaints filed by crime victims against Department of Justice employees who violate or fail to provide their rights in line with the CVRA.

The Department of Justice victim assistance teams are integral in providing victims, including victims of hate crimes, with the rights and services they are entitled to under the VRRA and CVRA. Victims receive initial support from the FBI's Victim Services Division during investigations of federal hate crimes until the investigation is closed, or until it is turned over to United States Attorney's Offices (USAOs) for prosecution. Each USAO is staffed by experienced Victim Witness Professionals (VWPs) who provide comprehensive and compassionate support to victims in USAO cases, including victims of hate crime. Specifically, VWPs provide safety planning, witness security assessments, travel/lodging co-ordination for out-of-town victims and witnesses, court accompaniment, emotional support, crisis response, notification services, and referrals for counselling, housing, transportation, crime victims' compensation, and medical or mental health needs, as appropriate. Many VWPs have specialized experience in supporting victims of hate crimes. 

Hate crime capacity building

The FBI conducts hundreds of operational seminars, workshops, and training sessions annually for federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement partners, as well as for minority and religious organizations and community groups, with the aim of promoting awareness, strengthening co-operation and reducing civil rights abuses.