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Hate Crimes in OC Jumped 14 Percent

By  Emma G. Gallegos
Published Aug 30, 2012 12:00 AM
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Hate crime via Shutterstock
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Hate crimes in Orange County jumped 14 percent last year after it going down four years in a row, according to an annual report from OC Human Relations.

In 2011, there were 64 documented hate crimes reported, which is up from 56 in 2010. But 2011 still had fewer reported hate crimes than 2009 (77) or 2008 (101). Here are some more stats that we culled from the City News Service and Orange County Register write-ups of the report:

  • African-americans are a major target of hate crime in OC. While blacks make up only 2 percent of the population in OC, they made up 30 percent of hate crimes targets.

  • Hate crimes against religious groups were up overall. Most of the targets are Jewish and Muslim, but hate crimes against Muslims have been on a downward slide in recent years: there were seven this year, which is one less than the year before.

  • Hate crimes involving sexual orientation were up, too, but the commission assumes that these crimes are largely underreported. There were seven last year, which is two more from the year before.

  • Most cases aren't violent. Out of 64 incidents, 34 were acts of vandalism.

  • 27 of these cases were referred for prosecution to the DA's office. 11 were filed as hate crimes and 10 resulted in a guilty plea.

    • OC Human Relations has put out this report for 20 years.Related:
    Hate Crimes and 'Incidents' Against Blacks and Muslims Up in Orange County