FBI Director Calls for Better Tracking of Hate Crimes
FBI Director James Comey called for better tracking of hate crimes that occur in the United States. The reporting requirements under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and Hate Crimes Statistics Act are voluntary, and many law enforcement agencies around the country choose not to report or affirmatively report zero hate crimes.
“We must continue to impress upon our state and local counterparts in every jurisdiction the need to track and report hate crime. It is not something we can ignore or sweep under the rug,” he said at an Anti-Defamation League (ADL) event on Monday.
The FBI releases their report on Hate Crime Statistics on a yearly basis. Last year, we reported that fewer law enforcement agencies are reporting, which causes significant gaps in our knowledge about the state of hate in the United States. Until all law enforcement participates, the statistics will only provide a snapshot of hate crimes in America.