Hate Crimes

Signs that a crime was motivated by hate may include:

• The offender chose the victim or property because they belonged to a protected group, like a certain religion or gender.
• The offender made written or verbal comments showing a prejudice.
• The crime happened on a date that is important for the victim's or offender’s protected group.
• There is organized hate activity in the area.

• Contact the local law enforcement agency right away.
• Get medical attention (if you need it).
• Write down the exact words that were said.
• Make notes about any other facts.
• Save all evidence (e.g., graffiti, eggshells, writing on victim's vehicle). If safe, wait until law enforcement arrives and takes photos.
• Get the names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails of other victims and witnesses.
• Try to get a description from any eyewitnesses of the criminal or the vehicle.
• Contact community organizations in your area that respond to hate crimes.

The California Victims' Bill of Rights Act, known as Marsy's Law, gives you these important legal rights:

• Get money for your losses. Apply for money to cover your property losses, medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses.
• Say how the crime impacted you. Tell the court how the crime impacted your life before the defendant is sentenced.
• Get information about the criminal case. Ask the prosecutor for certain information about the case.
• Get orders from the court. The court can make orders that could help you, such as a protective order to keep the defendant away from you or an order to pay attorney fees if you hired a lawyer to help with your case.
  
  The court may also order the defendant to pay you $25,000 or more for violating your civil rights. (Talk to a lawyer about your rights under the Ralph Act and the Bane Act.)
• California law prohibits law enforcement authorities from asking individuals, including those who are reporting or are victims of potential crimes, about their immigration status, unless the information is necessary to certify the victim for a U visa (victim of crime visa) or T visa (victim of human trafficking visa).

Know Your Rights and Protections Under Hate Crimes Laws

• Speak out against hate and intolerance.
• Have community rallies to support victims.
• Offer support and help to victims.
• Ask public officials to speak out against hate crimes.
• Establish a human relations commission or hate crime network that includes law enforcement, local government, schools, religious organizations and community organizations. Ask them to respond to hate crimes immediately when they happen and to promote prevention and awareness.

Every year, thousands of bias-motivated acts, commonly referred to as "hate crimes" or "hate incidents" are committed across America. Generally, any criminal act motivated by a specific bias against a victim's actual or perceived protected characteristic is a hate crime. A bias-motivated act that does not rise to the level of a crime is called a "hate incident." Hate crimes are prosecuted by city attorneys and district attorneys under California's penal code, while hate incidents can be the subject of civil lawsuits under California's civil code.

For more information please visit: https://oag.ca.gov/civil/preveduc

California Attorney General's
Victims' Services Unit
(877) 433-9069
TTY: (800) 735-2929
www.oag.ca.gov/victimservices

California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
(800) 884-1684
TTY: (800) 700-2320
www.dfeh.ca.gov

California Association of Human Relations Organizations
(213) 639-6089
www.cahro.org

California Victim Compensation Board
(800) 777-9229
www.vcgcb.ca.gov

Find Your Local District Attorney's Office,
Victim/Witness Assistance Center
www.vcgcb.ca.gov/victims/localhelp.aspx

U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Services
(202) 305-2935
www.justice.gov/crs

For more information, or help with questions or concerns, contact:
California Attorney General's Office Victims' Services Unit
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
(877) 433-9069
www.oag.ca.gov/victimservices

The Attorney General issued an information bulletin to law enforcement agencies across California, outlining state laws that prohibit hate crimes and other hate-related acts.

The bulletin is designed to ensure that state and local law enforcement officials across California have the necessary information and tools to respond appropriately and swiftly to hate crime activity.

View the latest bulletins:

2025-DLE-04	California Laws That Prohibit Hate Crimes and/or Provide Enhanced Penalties for Specified Hate-related Acts
2023-DLE-04	California Laws That Prohibit Hate Crimes and/or Provide Enhanced Penalties for Specified Hate-related Acts [Spanish] [Chinese] [Korean] [Tagalog] [Vietnamese]

The Attorney General issued guidance to prosecutors across California, providing information to assist prosecutors in carrying out their responsibilities.

The guidance is designed to ensure that prosecutors across California have the necessary information and tools to provide a full understanding regarding the handling of hate crime prosecutions, being mindful of the need for a victim-centered approach and restorative practices.

Prosecutor Guidance

1016.3 Guidance for Prosecutors and Defense Counsel

The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) has developed guidance and a model policy framework to assist law enforcement in identifying and handling crimes motivated by hate and bias and to help ensure accurate and timely reporting of hate crimes.

https://post.ca.gov/Portals/0/post_docs/publications/Hate_Crimes.pdf

California Civil Rights Department (CRD)

Contact: StopHate@CalCivilRights.CA.gov; 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283)
Website: https://stophate.calcivilrights.ca.gov

The California Civil Rights Department will host the CA vs. Hate Resource Line and Network (CA vs. Hate) will begin providing services on November 1, 2022 through a “soft launch.” During this time, CA vs. Hate will: (1) help individuals and communities targeted for hate identify options for next steps after a hate incident or crime, (2) connect people targeted for hate with culturally competent resources; and (3) collect data that people feel comfortable sharing regarding hate incidents and crimes to support ongoing efforts to improve hate incident and crime reporting and data to enhance hate crimes prevention and response.

CA vs. Hate will welcome input and suggestions on its portal, resource line and network, and services during the soft launch. In early Spring 2023, CA vs. Hate will have a “hard” launch that will incorporate community and user feedback and will be accompanied by a statewide multilingual outreach and marketing campaign.

CRD is a state department with a long history of enforcing civil rights protections outside the context of the criminal legal system. This includes enforcement of the Ralph Act; if you have been targeted for hate violence and threats, you can file a civil complaint with CRD against the person who harmed you. You may be able to collect money damages or obtain a restraining order.

If you contact CA vs. Hate, CRD will help identify these and other options for next steps that respect the needs of the people seeking support. For those who would like to connect with law enforcement, CRD can help provide information about the process and connect with law enforcement. For those who do not feel safe connecting with criminal law enforcement authorities, CRD will identify other civil legal options (both through CRD and other agencies) and other ways to access resources and support.

CRD is also proud to be home to the Commission on the State of Hate, a nine-member statewide commission appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules. Beginning next year, the Commission will do the following: (1) Develop a rigorous, comprehensive accounting of hate activity in California; (2) Host community forums on the state of hate in California; and (3) Provide resources and guidance to communities and government officials on how to effectively reduce and respond to hate activity.

California Department of Education (CDE)

Contact: antibiasgrants@cde.ca.gov
Website: https://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ps/antibiasgrant.asp

Antibias Education Grant Program
The purpose of the Antibias Education Grant Program is to prevent, address, and eliminate racism and bias in all California public schools, and making all public schools inclusive and supportive of all people.

An Antibias Education Grant shall be used for training and resources to prevent and address bias or prejudice toward any group of people based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, immigration status, language, or any actual or perceived characteristic listed in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code. Emphasis shall be on preventing anti-Semitism and bias or prejudice toward groups, including, but not limited to, African Americans, Asian-Pacific Islanders, Latinos, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth.

California Department of Social Services (CDSS)

Contact: HIU@dss.ca.gov
Website: https://cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/civil-rights/care-funding

Stop the Hate Program Funding
California Government Code § 8260 authorizes the CDSS, in consultation with the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA), to provide grants to qualified organizations to provide support and services to victims and survivors of hate incidents and hate crimes and their families and facilitate hate incident or hate crime prevention measures.

Funded Activities may include:

• Direct services for victims and survivors of hate incidents and their families, including legal services; navigation and case management; mental and complementary health services; and wellness and community healing;
• Prevention activities, including arts and cultural work, youth development, senior safety and escort programs, safety planning training; and cross-racial alliance work; and
• Interventions, including outreach, training, restorative justice, and coordination with local government and institutional partners.

California State Library (CSL)

Contact: ethnicmedia@library.ca.gov
Website: https://www.library.ca.gov/grants/ethnic-media/

Ethnic Media Outreach Grants
The California State Library, in partnership with the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA), allocated funding to help ethnic media outlets and organizations that serve communities that are historically vulnerable to hate incidents and hate crimes because of their ethnic, racial, religious, gender/gender expression, sexual orientation, or other identities.

California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES)

Contact: Nonprofit Security Grant Program:NonProfit.Security.Grant@CalOES.ca.gov
California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program: CSNSGP@caloes.ca.gov
Website: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/office-of-the-director/policy-administration/finance-administration/grants-management/homeland-security-emergency-management-programs/infrastructure-protection-grants/

Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
NSGP funding is focused on target hardening activities, and to support physical security enhancements and other security activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack. NSGP funds may also be used for security-related training courses and programs, exercises, and planning activities. Eligible nonprofit organizations are those organizations that are described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC) and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such code. The NSGP also promotes emergency preparedness coordination and collaboration activities between public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies.

California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CSNSGP)
The purpose of the CSNSGP is to provide funding support for physical security enhancements and other security-related activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk for violent attacks and hate crimes due to ideology, beliefs, or mission. The CSNSGP seeks to integrate the preparedness activities of nonprofit organizations with broader state and local preparedness efforts. The CSNSGP also promotes emergency preparedness coordination and collaboration activities between public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies.