NCJ Number
234903
Date Published
2006
Length
58 pages
Annotation
The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet presents this report on the scope of hate crime and hate incidents in the Commonwealth of Kentucky for 2006.
Abstract
The Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) Program reported a total of 64 hate crime incidents in 2006 in Kentucky, an increase from the 44 incidents reported in 2005. In 2006, a victim's race was the most common motivation for hate crimes in Kentucky (60.9 percent). A victim's sexual orientation was the second most common hate crime motivation (18.8 percent of incidents). In 2006, 31.3 percent of all hate crimes in Kentucky occurred in a residence/home; 23.4 percent occurred in a highway/street/road/alley; and 15.6 percent occurred in a school/college. The offense of intimidation was involved in 40.6 percent of hate crimes; 32.8 percent involved the offenses of destruction/damage/vandalism; and 12.5 percent involved the offense of aggravated assault. As was true in the Nation as a whole, in Kentucky the majority of suspected offenders were White (48.1 percent). Anecdotal evidence of the prevalence and frequency of hate crime is provided by articles published by local newspapers from across the State. In fiscal year 2006, the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights processed 2,507 intakes that involved communicating with people in the State who had possibly been victims of discrimination. Approximately one in seven intakes resulted in a new discrimination complaint being filed. The number of discrimination complaints increase to 383, which is higher than in any previous year in the agency's 46-year history. The report advises that official data are reflective of the prevalence and frequency of the reporting of hate incidents rather than an accurate reporting of hate incidents that actually occurred. 19 tables and 2 figures