that person and to deter future viola-
tions of these laws. The court also
• Your local District Attorney’s Victim/
Witness Program (County listing in the
Preventing
Hate Crime
may issue a restraining order or other telephone book)
type of injunctive order to protect you • The United States Attorney’s Office
from further harm, and may order the Victim/Witness Assistance Program in
person who has harmed you to pay your district (Federal listing in the
your attorney’s fees if you have hired telephone book)
an attorney. • United States Department of Justice,
Community Relations Services (Federal
What can you and your listing in the telephone book)
community do?
• Speak out against hate and intolerance.
• Support the victims by holding com- For further information on this program and
munity rallies and offering support and other crime prevention material, write to:
assistance to the victim.
• Encourage public officials to state their Crime and Violence Prevention Center
opposition to hate crimes. California Attorney General's Office
• Establish a hate crime network that P.O. Box 944255
includes law enforcement, local govern- Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
ment, schools, religious organizations
www.ag.ca.gov/cvpc
and community-based organizations
that immediately responds to a hate
crime when it occurs and promotes
prevention and awareness.
How To Obtain Assistance
If you have been the victim of a hate
crime, the following resources may be of
assistance to you:
• California Attorney General’s Office of
Victims’ Services
Telephone: (877) 433-9069
• State of California - Department of
Fair Employment and Housing
Telephone: 1-800-884-1684
TTY: 1-800-700-2320 Crime and Violence Prevention Center
• California State Board of Control California Attorney General's Office
Victims of Violent Crime Unit
Telephone: 1-800-777-9229 B13–9119 Bill Lockyer
2/01 Attorney General
“Hate Crimes are among the most as the freedom of speech, allow hateful Basic Clues
dehumanizing of crimes because the rhetoric as long as it does not interfere with
The following list indicates signs that a
perpetrator views his or her victim as the civil rights of others. If this type of be-
hate crime may have been committed:
havior escalates to threats being made or
lacking full human worth due to his • Perception of the victim or witness that
carried out against a person or property, then
or her skin color, language, religion, he/she was selected by the perpetrator
it would be classified as a hate crime.
because of his or her membership in a
sexual orientation, or disability. In
protected class.
addition, a hate crime impacts the A hate crime is a criminal act or attempted
• Written or oral comments of the perpe-
entire group to which the victim criminal act committed against a person or
trator that may indicate a bias.
belongs, spreading concern through- his or her property because the person is, or
• Date of incident coincides with a day
is perceived to be, a member of a protected
out the community.” that is of significance to the victim’s
class.
protected class.
Bill Lockyer • Differences between the race or religion,
Hate crimes should be reported to the pro-
Attorney General for example, of the victim and the
per authorities, such as your local police or
perpetrator.
sheriff’s department. If these hate crimes
• Organized hate group activity in the
are not reported to law enforcement, the
area.
perpetrators will continue to act on their
Hate Crimes in California beliefs and will continue to pose a threat
to society. Services Available to
In California, you can be a victim of a hate Hate Crime Victims
crime if you have been targeted because of
your “real” or “perceived” race, ethnicity, Hate Crime Victims • You have certain rights under the
California Constitution’s Victim’s Bill of
national origin, religion, gender, sexual If you suspect you are a victim of a hate
Rights. For example, you may be entitled
orientation, or physical or mental disability. crime, you should:
to information about the prosecution
These groups are referred to as “protected • Call the police or sheriff’s department
of the perpetrator, and have the right
classes.” All people are members of a immediately.
to present a victim impact statement at
protected class. • Obtain medical attention (if needed).
the time of sentencing.
• Write down the exact words that were
• You may be entitled to restitution for
It is important to be able to differentiate spoken and any other information that
any loss, damage or injury that you may
between hate incidents and hate crimes. may be of value.
incur.
• Save any evidence (graffiti, egg shells,
• You are also protected under the Ralph
A hate incident is an action or behavior writing on victim’s vehicle). Do not remove
Act and the Bane Act. Under these
that is motivated by hate, but is protected any evidence. Wait until law enforcement
laws, a court may award money to you.
by the First Amendment right to freedom officers respond and take photographs.
The court may require the person who
of expression. Examples of hate incidents • Get the name(s), address(es), and telephone
has violated your rights to pay a civil
can include name calling, epithets, distri- number(s) of other victims and witnesses.
penalty ($25,000) to you, money to
bution of hate material in public places, and • If possible, get a description of the perpe-
compensate you for the actual harm
the display of offensive hate-motivated trator and perpetrator’s vehicle.
you have suffered, and/or an additional
material on one’s property. The freedoms • Call community-based organizations in
amount of money designed to punish
guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, such your area that respond to hate crimes.