Hate Crimes Surge 50% In VA, Study Says

VIRGINIA — The state of Virginia had one of the largest increases in hate crimes in the country from 2021 to 2022, according to a recent study.

Personal injury attorney Gruber Law Offices examined data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System and Summary Reporting System, which was voluntarily submitted to the FBI, to identify changes in the number of hate crimes year-over-year in each state.

Illinois led the nation in the surge of hate crimes. The state saw a 125 percent rise in hate crimes, going from 149 in 2021 to 319 in 2022, according to the ranking.

But Virginia was third in the increase of hate incidents. The Commonwealth saw a 50 percent increase in hate crimes, going from 121 in 2021 to 182 in 2022, according to the study.

Here are the top states for reported hate crimes, the study said:

1. Illinois, 125% increase
2. Delaware, 78% increase
3. Virginia, 50% increase
4. Maryland, 44% increase
5. New Jersey, 41% increase
6. Wyoming, 28% increase
7. Mississippi, 27% increase
8. Indiana, 26% increase
9. Connecticut, 21% increase tied with Arkansas, 21% increase
10. New York, 19% increase

At the other end of the spectrum, Alaska saw the biggest decrease in hate crime with a 75 percent decline. Alaska law enforcement reported 20 hate crimes to the FBI in 2021, which dropped to 5 in 2022.

Hate crime figures nationwide remained largely unchanged from year to year, according to attorney David Gruber.

“The best way to challenge hate crime is to take a multifaceted approach and involve all areas of society,” Gruber said in a news release. “Education is the first step to addressing hate crime, as equipping individuals with the understanding of what defines a hate crime, and the awareness of how to report one, will help ensure that all hate crime is dealt with in an appropriate manner.”

Other states with sharp decreases in hate crimes are: North Dakota had the second-largest decrease with a 54 percent change of 37 hate crimes to 17, and Louisiana was third with 48 percent fewer hate crimes, dropping from 124 to 65.

Methodology: Hate crime data for the nation are derived from National Incident-Based Reporting System and Summary Reporting System reports voluntarily submitted to the FBI.

The 2021 Hate Crime statistics for the nation are based on data received from 15,131 of 18,921 participating law enforcement agencies in the country that year. 2022 Hate Crime statistics are based on data received from 14,660 of 18,888 participating law enforcement agencies in the country that year.

From this data, the percentage change from 2021 to 2022 in each state was calculated, to compile a ranking of the states with the biggest decrease in hate crime.

The FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program defines hate crime as a committed criminal offense which is motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender’s bias(es) against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.