HATE CRIMES
The department recognizes and places a high priority on safeguarding the constitutional and legal rights of all individuals. All reported incidents of hate crimes will be fully investigated.
If you have been the victim of a hate crime or bias-motivated incident:
In an emergency, dial 9-1-1. Otherwise, dial the non-emergency line at (562) 435-6711.
What is a hate crime?
A hate crime, as defined in section 422.55 of the California Penal Code, is a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of the victim: Disability, gender, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation – or because of the victim’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. Examples of criminal acts:
- Interfering with, oppressing or threatening any other person in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege because of one or more of the actual or perceived characteristics of the victim (Penal Code § 422.6(a))
- Knowingly defacing, damaging, or destroying a person’s property because of one or more of the actual or perceived characteristics of the victim (Penal Code § 422.6(b))
- Terrorizing a person with a swastika or burning cross (Penal Code § 11411)
- Vandalizing a place of worship (Penal Code § 594)
What is a bias-motivated incident?
A “Bias-Motivated Incident” is different from a hate crime in that it is a non-criminal action or behavior motivated by hate but protected by the First Amendment right to freedom of expression. Examples include:
- Name calling
- Distribution of hate material in public places
- Display of offensive hate-motivated material on one’s property
- Graffiti on an overpass not directed at a specific target
Reporting
The Long Beach Police Department encourages the reporting of all hate crimes and hate related incidents. Reporting a hate crime or hate incident allows the department to identify trends, develop strategies to prevent future incidents, and focus on areas that need intervention and awareness.
Hate crime incidents determined to be a violation of a criminal statue and meet the elements set forth under California Penal Code § 422.55 are reported to the Department of Justice for National Incident-Reporting System (NIBRS).
Resources
- The City of Long Beach
- Long Beach Police Department - Violent Crimes Detail (562) 570-7250
- Long Beach City Prosecutor (562) 570-5600
- Human Dignity Program (562)570-6730
- Community-Based Organizations
- The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Los Angeles Regional Office (310) 446-8000
- Asian Pacific American Legal Center 1145 Wilshire Blvd., 2nd Floor #200, Los Angeles, CA 90017(213) 977-7500
- The California Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ) 3711 Long Beach Blvd. Ste. 1017, Long Beach, CA 90807(562) 435-8184
- The LGBTQ Center of Greater Long Beach (The Center) 2017 E 4th Street, Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 434-4455
- United Cambodian Community 2201 E Anaheim Street #200, Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 433-2490
- Victims of Crime Resource Counseling Center: Norwalk (310) 534-7300
- Cerritos (562) 402-0414
- The Long Beach Trauma Recovery Center: St. Mary’s Medical Center 1050 Linden Ave., Ste. 801, Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 491-7977
- Los Angeles County District Attorney: Long Beach Branch (562) 247-2000
- Violent Crime Victim/Witness Assistance Program (562) 247-2068
- Federal Agency Department of Fair Employment and Housing Resources (DFEH) (562) 247-2000
- Web Address: https://www.dfeh.ca.gov
- LA vs HATE Web Address: https://www.lavshate.org/ Phone: 211
