LOS ANGELES June 27, 2023 – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today released the 2022 Hate Crime in California Report, and highlighted information and resources to support ongoing efforts across the state to combat hate. Overall, reported hate crime events in California increased 20.2% from 1,763 in 2021 to 2,120 in 2022. Reported hate crimes targeting Black people remain the most prevalent and increased 27.1% from 513 in 2021 to 652 in 2022, while reported anti-Asian hate crime events decreased by 43.3% from 247 in 2021 to 140 in 2022, and reported hate crime events involving a sexual orientation bias increased, rising 29% from 303 in 2021 to 391 in 2022. Amidst this surge in reported hate crime offenses and events, Attorney General Bonta urges local partners and law enforcement to review the resources highlighted today and to recommit themselves to taking action. Download Full Report
Some of the key findings from the 2022 Hate Crime in California Report include:
Overall, reported hate crime events increased 20.2% from 1,763 in 2021 to 2,120 in 2022. A hate crime event is a single occurrence but may involve more than one hate crime offense. For example, a person may be threatened and assaulted at the same time; this would involve multiple hate crime offenses within the same hate crime event.
- 2,589 hate crime offenses were reported in California, increasing by 16.6% from 2021.
- Hate crime events motivated by a sexual orientation bias increased 29% from 303 in 2021 to 391 in 2022.
- Anti-Black or African American bias events increased 27.1% from 513 in 2021 to 652 in 2022.
- Anti-Hispanic bias crimes rose from 197 in 2021 to 210 in 2022.
- Anti-Asian bias events fell from 247 in 2021 to 140 in 2022, a decrease of 43.3%.
- Anti-Jewish bias events increased 24.3% from 152 in 2021 to 189 in 2022.
- Anti-Protestant bias events rose from 2 in 2021 to 12 in 2022.
- Anti-Islamic (Muslim) bias crimes rose from 18 in 2021 to 25 in 2022.
- Anti-transgender bias events increased from 38 in 2021 to 59 in 2022.
- Anti-gay (male) bias events increased 28.4% from 211 in 2021 to 271 in 2022
- Anti-lesbian bias crimes rose from 27 in 2021 to 33 in 2022.
From 2021 to 2022, the number of hate crimes referred for prosecution increased 5.9% from 610 in 2021 to 647 in 2022. Of the 647 hate crimes that were referred for prosecution, 456 cases were filed by district attorneys and elected city attorneys. Of the 122 cases with a disposition available for this report, 43.4% were hate crime convictions and 45.9% were other convictions.
