Hate Crime Reports Growing Across State

Reported hate crime incidents are climbing locally and statewide.

Since January, 24 incidents had been filed with the Spokane Human Rights Commission compared to 17 last year at this time. Incidents include graffiti, racist leaflets and assault.

Hate crime reports in Washington state declined from 1996 to 1997, but increased in both Idaho and Washington last year.

In Washington, 202 bias-motivated criminal offenses were reported in 1997.

Preliminary indications for 1998 show a slight increase, the Uniform Crime Reporting program of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs shows. The actual numbers won’t be released for another few weeks.

In Idaho, 57 hate crime incidents were reported in 1998, up from 44 in 1997.

Eleven of those complaints came from the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, the highest number reported by a single department in Idaho. Nampa police reported six incidents. Post Falls reported five and Boise reported four.

The definition of hate crimes is an offense committed against a person or property motivated by the offender’s bias against a person’s race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Motivation is determined during the investigation.