NCJ Number
136967
Date Published
1992
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The Fourth Annual Bias Incident Report of the New Jersey Division of State Police for 1991 indicates 976 bias incident offenses were recorded by the police, an 18-percent increase over 1990.
Abstract
Harassment accounted for 33 percent of all bias incident offenses, while criminal mischief and property damage accounted for 23 percent. Racial bias accounted for 53 percent of all bias crimes in 1991; persons were the target in 67 percent of all offenses. The black race represented the most frequent racial group victimized by bias crimes, accounting for 37 percent of all bias incidents. The Jewish religion was the most frequent religious group victimized, accounting for 25 percent of all bias incidents. The Asian Indian ethnic group represented the most frequent ethnic group victimized by bias crime, accounting for 6 percent of all bias incidents. The most frequent day of occurrence was Sunday, and the most frequent month of occurrence was October. About one-third of all bias incidents occurred in residences. Forty-two percent of all bias incident offenses were cleared; 23 percent were cleared by arrest, and 19 percent were exceptionally cleared. A total of 297 arrests (180 adults and 117 juveniles) were made as a result of bias incidents. The involvement of organized hate groups was not substantiated in any of the reported bias incidents. 5 tables and 2 figures