PROJECT OVERVIEW

Crimes that target individuals based on their race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, or sex are significantly on the rise in the United States, yet they often go vastly underreported. Multiple data sources indicate that the number of these crimes in the United States continues to increase every year. According to the most recent data available through the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report Supplemental Hate Crime Statistics, there were 10,840 incidents and 12,411 related offenses in 2021 classified as motivated by race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, or sex. These figures represented a 31 percent increase in incidents and an 11 percent increase in offenses since 2020.

These types of group-based targeted crimes are distinct from other crimes because each incident affects not only the immediate victim but also other members of the victim’s demographic group. For example, when a person is targeted owing to prejudice against their perceived or actual race or religion, the impact can be far-reaching, instilling fear among others who share that characteristic.

“A great deal of research has been conducted on group-based targeted crime topics such as prevalence, causes, consequences, and related issues,” explained Dr. Stephen Gies, DSG’s director of research and evaluation, who is principal investigator on the study. “But specific research examining prevention or interventions activities—especially those at the community level—is lacking. The purpose of our study is to address this gap and contribute to the growing body of literature on group-based targeted crimes by conducting a preliminary evaluation of a community-level prevention model that jurisdictions across the country can potentially implement in their efforts to prevent—or reduce—such crimes.”

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