1,089 reported hate crimes statewide in 2023, up 69% from 2019

In New York State, the number of hate crimes has risen sharply over the past five years, with 1,089 cases reported in 2023. This is the highest number since New York’s Hates Crimes Act mandated data collection and annual reporting in 2000, according to a report by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The number is 69% higher than in 2019.

“New York is a center of diverse cultures, faiths and identities whose strength has always been in creating community bonds that unite us,” DiNapoli said. “Fighting hate and bigotry requires that we communicate with, respect and accept our neighbors. It requires our spiritual, political, civic and economic leaders to take an active role in condemning hate, investing in prevention and protection measures, and improving education that celebrates the value of New York’s diversity.”

A hate crime is a crime motivated by a perception or belief related to the victim’s race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristic. Hate crimes can be committed against a person or against property.

With the exception of 2020, which may have been due to an artificially low reporting rate due to COVID, there has been a steady increase in hate crimes over the past five years, with the number of reported incidents more than doubling between 2018 and 2023. In addition, available data may not capture all relevant crimes, as underreporting may occur for a variety of reasons. Victims may be hesitant to report incidents, such as language barriers, fear of retaliation, distrust of law enforcement, or lack of faith in justice.

A decade ago, New York City and the rest of the state reported roughly equal numbers of hate crimes. However, between 2013 and 2019, reported hate crimes increased by a third in New York City but decreased by 25.8% in the rest of the state. Between 2019 and 2023, these incidents increased even faster in New York City (59.3%) and the rest of the state (87.5%). In 2023, the New York Police Department reported 669 hate crimes, a 12.6% increase from 2022. In the rest of the state, the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) reported 420 incidents in 2023, a 12.9% increase from the previous year.

DiNapoli’s report also states:

• The most common bias motivation reported in New York State in 2023 was religion, with 543 incidents, or nearly half. Race, ethnicity, and national origin account for about a third, and sexual orientation/gender identity (LGBTQ+) nearly 17%.
• In 2023, 44% of all registered hate crimes and 88% of religiously motivated hate crimes were directed against Jewish victims, the largest share of all such crimes.
• Hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers increased by 89% (253 to 477) and 106% (18 to 37) respectively between 2018 and 2023.
• The proportion of racially motivated incidents in the state is higher today than it was five years ago. Nearly 17% of all recorded hate crimes and 52% of racially motivated hate crimes were directed against black people.
• 71% of hate crimes motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias were against gay male victims, nearly 12% of all incidents. Over the past five years, incidents against gay men increased by 141% (from 54 to 130) and hate crimes against transgender New Yorkers increased by 140% (from 10 to 24).
• During the pandemic, the number of hate crimes against Asians rose from five reported incidents in 2019 to 140 in 2021. While the number of anti-Asian incidents has dropped by half over the past two years, it is still 11 times higher than the number of incidents reported in 2019.

TTypes of hate crimes

Hate crimes against individuals and property have increased since 2018, but hate crimes involving attacks on persons increased more rapidly and were more common than property crimes as of 2021. In 2018, crimes against persons accounted for 41% of all hate crimes; in 2022, they rose to 52%. This year, nearly half of all hate crime reports included a charge of assault, compared to 39% in 2018. 2023 data for areas outside New York City detailing the types of hate crimes have not yet been released by the DCJS. Available data for New York City show that 58% of all hate crimes in New York City in 2023 were committed against a person; of these, 32% were egregious enough to qualify as crimes, including 72 aggravated assaults, 47% of which were committed for anti-Jewish or anti-gay reasons. Incidents against Jewish New Yorkers accounted for 65% of all hate crimes (persons and property) in New York City in 2023.

The most common offense in New York City in 2023 was aggravated harassment in the first degree. There were 145 incidents of this type in New York City, and all but 14 were committed with an anti-Jewish bias. The other two most common offenses were assault offenses, which were predominantly motivated by anti-gay, anti-Jewish, anti-Asian, and anti-Black bias.

DiNapoli’s report highlighted several initiatives taken at the federal and state levels to address the rise in hate crimes and identified key policy areas where action could be taken to prevent hate crimes, including education, mental health services and online safety.

“Absolutely no one deserves to be attacked because of their race, religion or the person they love,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-Queens)“Between the rise of anti-Asian hatred during the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia after October 7,^thAttacks on the LGBTQ+ community and racially motivated violence, the rise in hate crimes in cities across our state is alarming. In my community in Queens and across New York, diversity has always been a source of strength, comfort, and unity. We must continue to confront hate and bigotry in all its forms so that our friends and neighbors can live without fear of unimaginable violence.”

“We commend State Comptroller DiNapoli for this important report and for his tireless commitment to justice in our great state,” said Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, President of the New York State Conference of the NAACP. “The NAACP New York State Conference of Branches stands with State Comptroller DiNapoli and other stakeholders in condemning racism, discrimination, anti-Semitism and homophobia in all their forms. New Yorkers will not stand idly by and accept these heinous acts. We remain committed to working with elected officials and community organizations to eradicate hatred based on race, creed, color, religion or sexual orientation. This report provides us with the critical data and insights we need to effectively advance our mission.”

“It is abundantly clear that hate crimes against Blacks, Jews, Muslims, AAPI, LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities have increased in recent years,” said Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of NAN“Vitamin-laden rhetoric from ideological fringe groups, amplified by anonymous and public figures – whether online or on the campaign trail – is fueling this dangerous trend. We need a national reminder that this rhetoric has real consequences, because behind these alarming statistics are real people – our neighbors and fellow New Yorkers. We cannot allow hate to define our city, our state, or our nation.”

“We are deeply grateful to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli for producing this important report. It is more than just timely; it is an important reminder that every hate crime statistic represents a New Yorker who is suffering. This isn’t just about data – it’s about upholding our state and city’s core values ​​of compassion and inclusion. This report calls on every New Yorker, from our government offices, religious institutions, private businesses to our schools, to actively develop strategies to combat all forms of hate.” Mark Treyger, CEO, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.

“As the number of reported hate crimes increases, we at the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) know that there are even more incidents that are not reported to law enforcement. AVP supports LGBTQ survivors of violence to heal and thrive after violence, and through our hotline and crisis services, we document hate violence – which is most likely to affect people who are multiply marginalized,” said Audacia Ray, acting deputy executive director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project.

Read the reportThe alarming rise in hate crimes in New York State