United States of America

The United States regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. The United States publishes hate crime data annually.

The Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics conducts a regular National Crime Victimization Survey, with data covering the period from 2005 to 2020. In 2020, the Department of Justice issued a comprehensive "Law Enforcement Roundtable Report on Hate Crimes", setting forth key recommendations and action steps to combat hate crime.

Following a 2021 review by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), hate crimes were included in the top-level category of priorities (Band 1 National Threat Priority), resulting in an increase in resources allocated to tackle hate crime. By collaborating with the national Hate Crime Coalition, the FBI consults closely with civil society organizations (CSOs), including to develop and update the FBI Hate Crime Data Collection Guidelines and Training Manual. During an update of the Guidelines, the Department of Justice invited comments from the public and held two virtual consultations with CSOs.

SELECT YEAR

OFFICIAL DATA

Year	Hate crimes recorded by police	Prosecuted	Sentenced
2021	Not available	Not available	Not available
2020	11,129	-	-
2019	8,559	-	-
2018	8,496	27	20
2017	8,437	Not available	Not available
2016	7,321	Not available	Not available
2015	6,885	Not available	Not available
2014	6385	Not available	Not available
2013	6933	22	Not available
2012	6718	Not available	Not available
2011	7254	Not available	Not available
2010	7699	Not available	Not available
2009	7789	Not available	Not available

About 2009 Data

The US reports by incidents, offences, victims and known offenders. The FBI reports overall total "offenses", therefore, these are the figures included.

Download official data

National developments

A Special Adviser on Muslim Affairs was appointed to serve on the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The role of the Special Adviser will be to increase dialogue between Muslims and the Presidential Administration.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed on 28 October 2009. This Act expanded the 1969 federal hate crimes law to include crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The law gives power to the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated crimes, and to aid state and local jurisdictions with investigations and prosecutions of bias-motivated crimes.

KEY OBSERVATION

No information is available.

Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See

Reports

Anti-Semitic hate crime

The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund reported one murder and attempted attacks on two synagogues. The Anti-Defamation League reported on the commission of anti-Semitic crimes in 46 states and the District of Columbia, recording at total of 460 vandalism cases, 760 cases of harassment and 29 assaults. The Stephen Roth Institute reported 116 violent incidents.

Anti-Muslim hate crime

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported 15 incidents, including four assaults, the death of an imam in an alleged arson attack, and a shooting in which a person was injured. Additionally, CAIR reported one murder, four physical assaults and four acts of vandalism targeting mosques. Human Rights First reported the vandalization of a religious school and a one case involving a verbal threat.

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) reported 1,556 incidents. This figure includes 22 murders, 446 assaults, 74 cases of sexual assault/rape and 65 involving theft or burglary. NCAVP noted that only 368 of these incidents were reported to the police. Transgender Europe (TGEU) reported the murders of 12 transgender persons.

Disability hate crime

The National Coalition of the Homeless published a report on hate crimes and violence against people experiencing homelessness. The report noted that that state of Maryland and the District of Columbia are the first jurisdictions in which attacks against homeless persons have been introduced as a category to their existing hate crimes law.

Developments

Anti-Muslim hate crime

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee introduced an online form to report hate incidents.

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Anti-Muslim hate crime

The OSCE Chairperson in Office’s Personal Representative on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims went on a joint visit with the other Personal Representatives to the United States. He stressed the importance of data collection on crimes against Muslims and the importance of police training.

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The OSCE Chairperson in Office’s Personal Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions went on a joint visit with the other Personal Representatives to the United States. There, he emphasized the importance of training criminal justice agencies in addressing hate crimes.