State: Hate crimes in Stanislaus County highest since 2001. ‘Will probably get worse’
Stanislaus County recorded the highest number of hate crimes in 2023 since 2001, according to data from the state Department of Justice.
There were 19 reported hate crimes in the county in 2023, with eight referred to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office and formally filed as hate crime cases. Of those, two resulted in hate crime convictions.
Stanislaus County DA Jeff Laugero explained that the DOJ statistics count reports, whereas his office focuses on cases, which can include multiple reports linked to a single case. Of the 19 reports, the DA’s Office received 18, which it classified into 11 hate crime cases in 2023.
Laugero said it’s difficult to ascertain why numbers were up in 2023 without speculating. In 2023, his office appointed a hate crimes prosecutor to ensure that hate-based cases are reviewed and managed by a prosecutor with specialized training. Both law enforcement and prosecuting agencies now receive more targeted training on hate crimes.
The training allows agencies to identify hate crimes early in investigations and appropriately classify the cases as such. Laugero said his staff has used hate crime prosecution training provided by the California District Attorneys Association, working alongside a designated prosecutor, to apply best practices and enhance protections for affected groups.
“With more widespread training, crimes motivated by hate are being recognized, investigated and prosecuted. There is no place for intolerance and hate in Stanislaus County,” Laugero said in a statement.
The majority of the incidents were motivated by race/ethnicity and sexual orientation, with Black individuals being the most common victims. Most hate crimes were perpetrated by white individuals.
“The data is not surprising and will probably get worse as others feel more emboldened and empowered in carrying out anti-Black social attitudes, value, and norms that inherently exist beneath the surface,” said Wendy Byrd, president of the NAACP’s local chapter, in a statement to The Bee.
Roman Scanlon, executive director of CalPride Stanislaus, said interpreting hate crime data is challenging because such incidents are often underreported. For example, people might report assaults without disclosing that they are LGBTQ, fearing they could out themselves or face discrimination. When incidents get media coverage, concerns about potential repercussions from family or employers also may discourage victims from being fully transparent.
While Scanlon is glad more people are coming forward to report these crimes, he is troubled such incidents persist.
“I feel like I want to say it’s a good sign that people are actually reporting it now, in the last few years,” Scanlon said. “But at the same time, I cannot say that we have a true benchmark to show whether this is an actual increase in crime towards LGBT, or is it an increase of people finally feeling comfortable enough to actually report it?”
He added that the Modesto Police Department has been pretty responsive and supportive toward the LGBTQ community regarding potential hate crimes.
According to the data, residences and restaurants were the most frequent locations for hate crimes. Aggravated assaults were the predominant crime, with many involving verbal slurs. One incident involved a handgun.
A majority of the crimes occurred in September and October. The lowest reported hate crime totals in the last 22 years occurred in 2011 and 2013, with just six incidents each year.
Hate crime data for 2024 has not yet been released by the Department of Justice. However, Laugero said law enforcement identified 12 reports as related to hate crimes. The DA’s Office classified six cases as hate crimes, with all 12 reports included within those six cases. Laugero noted that the hate-crime-related charges in 2024 were based on race, ethnicity and race/sexual orientation.
Earlier in December, a Modesto man was arrested on multiple charges, including hate crimes and civil rights violations, related to racist graffiti and threats targeting undocumented immigrants.
“We want to make it clear that these actions will not be tolerated,” Sheriff Jeff Dirkse said in a statement about the incident. “Racial hatred, bigotry, and violence have no place in Stanislaus County. Our office is working closely with community members and community leaders to investigate these incidents thoroughly. Those responsible will be held accountable.”
To report a hate crime
Report the crime to your state or local police. If it’s an emergency, dial 911; otherwise, call the appropriate law enforcement agency. Police officers may reach out to you for more information as they investigate the crime.
Quickly follow up your report by reporting the crime to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). You can report a hate crime to the FBI online at tips.FBI.gov. Follow the instructions on the pop-ups and fill out the online form to report a hate crime. By phone, call the FBI at 1-800-225-5324. You can also reach out to your local FBI field office. Find the phone number for the FBI field office closest to you at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices.
This story was originally published December 27, 2024 at 4:00 PM.
