Indicator 3 0 : Bias crimes

Goal: All people will be welcomed, respected and able to participate fully in Minnesota's communities and economy. The promise of inclusion of all people is embedded in Minnesota's heritage as well as in federal and state law. The goal encourages pride in ethnic heritage and endorses opportunity for all without consideration of race, sex or ability. This is increasingly important as Minnesota's workplaces, schools, and communities grow in diversity.

Rationale: Incidents of bias or hate crimes are harmful not only to the individual victims, but also to Minnesota communities and neighborhoods. They indicate a lack of acceptance of the increasing diversity of Minnesota's communities.

Year 1990 307 1991 425 1992 433 1993 377 1994 282 1995 307 1996 279 1997 239 1998 264 1999 230 2000 184

Data source: Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Year 1990 259 1991 345 1992 376 1993 290 1994 220 1995 238 1996 210 1997 174 1998 185 1999 163 2000 133

Data source: Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Year 1990 20 1991 41 1992 30 1993 43 1994 39 1995 38 1996 55 1997 34 1998 52 1999 56 2000 27

Data source: Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Year 1990 24 1991 33 1992 23 1993 35 1994 16 1995 23 1996 11 1997 16 1998 18 1999 9 2000 19

Data source: Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Year 1990 4 1991 6 1992 4 1993 9 1994 7 1995 8 1996 3 1997 15 1998 9 1999 2 2000 5

Data source: Minnesota Department of Public Safety

About this indicator: The number of reported bias crimes has fluctuated in the last decade.
State law requires all law enforcement agencies to report any bias crime when the officer believes the crime was motivated by the victim's religion, race, country of origin, sex, disability, age or sexual orientation. Approximately 70 percent of all bias crimes reported in Minnesota are based on race or national origin. Another 20 to 25 percent are based on sexual orientation. Reports of bias crimes based on sex, religion, age or disability are relatively rare in Minnesota.

Changes in reported bias crimes may reflect a change in reporting practices and procedures. Many bias crimes may go unreported or unlabeled as bias related. Some undocumented immigrants may not report being a victim of crime for fear of being reported to immigration officials. Other reasons may include a fear of reprisal by their attackers, a personal mistrust of law enforcement officers or a sense that redress is not attainable.

For comparison: Nationally, bias crimes reported to the FBI in 2000 rose two percent from the previous year. Of the 9,430 hate crime victims reported in 2000 in the United States, 55 percent were targeted because of race. In Minnesota, there was a 20 percent decrease in reported bias offenses from 1999 to 2000.

Things to think about: Leaders of some immigrant and ethnic communities in Minnesota have publicly expressed concerns about the increased potential for bias crime since the terrorist events of September 11, 2001.

Technical notes: Law enforcement agencies file monthly reports of bias crimes with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which reports data annually to the state legislature and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

Sources:

• Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Minnesota Crime Information – 2000, www.dps.state.mn.us/bca/CJIS/Documents/Crime2000/Page-14.html
• Federal Bureau of Investigation, www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm

Related indicators:

• Sense of safety
• Violent and property crime
• Juvenile apprehensions

Other related indicators:

• Discrimination complaints filed with federal, state and local human rights agencies (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission; Minnesota Department of Human Rights; Minneapolis Civil Rights Department; St. Paul Human Rights Department)