Hate Crime Watch
Interactive Map: California Hate Crimes Rise 17 Percent
California has 75 hate groups, the largest concentration of hate groups in the nation. A new report gives a breakdown of hate crimes reported in the state last year.
A report released by the California Department of Justice documents a 17.4 percent increase in the number of hate crime events reported in 2017. The survey shows an increase from 931 hate crime events in 2016, to 1,093 in 2017.
Other takeaways from the “Hate Crime in California” report:
Hate crime events involving a racial bias increased 16 percent — from 519 in 2016, to 602 in 2017.
- Anti-black or African-American bias events rose from 251 in 2016 to 302 in 2017, an increase of 20.3 percent.
- Anti-Hispanic or Latino bias events rose from 83 in 2016 to 126 in 2017, an increase of 51.8 percent.
Hate crime events involving religious bias increased 21.1 percent — from 171 in 2016, to 207 in 2017.
- Anti-Jewish bias events rose from 82 in 2016, to 104 in 2017, an increase of 26.8 percent.
- Anti-Islamic (Muslim) bias events rose from 37 in 2016, to 46 in 2017.
Hate crime events involving a sexual orientation bias increased 18.8 percent — from 207 in 2016, to 246 in 2017.
- Anti-gay (male) bias events rose from 152 in 2016 to 172 in 2017, an increase of 13.2 percent.
California has 75 hate groups, the largest concentration of hate groups in the nation. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the number of hate groups rose nationally from 917 in 2016, to 954 in 2017.
View our map below that shows the hate crime events for the last three years by county.
Copyright Capital & Main
-
Latest NewsMarch 20, 2026Is Kaiser’s Labor-Management Model Unraveling?
-
Column - California UncoveredMarch 16, 2026From Invisibility to Inclusion: A ‘Generational Shift’ on Menopause Care
-
Column - State of InequalityMarch 19, 2026More States Are Taxing the Ultra-Rich — Washington Is the Latest
-
Latest NewsMarch 24, 2026It’s Getting Tougher to Teach LGBTQ History, Even Where It’s Required by Law
-
Latest NewsMarch 17, 2026The Video That Changed the Narrative of a Fatal Beating on the Border
-
Column - State of InequalityApril 9, 2026Despite Apocalyptic Warnings, California Fast Food Wage Hike Didn’t Kill Jobs
-
Imperial DivideApril 1, 2026Newsom Promised California a Lithium Bonanza. It Still Hasn’t Arrived.
-
Latest NewsMarch 25, 2026Capital & Main Wins Five Best in Business Awards from National Journalism Contest

