ALBANY – Hate crimes across New York State spiked 14 percent in 2009 led by an increase in attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions, state records released yesterday show.
There were 683 hate crimes reported to police authorities across the state in 2009 compared to 599 in 2008, according to a report released by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS.)
In the New York City, reported hate crimes rose six percent, to 275 from 259.
Brooklyn led the city with the highest number of incidents, 92, followed by Manhattan, 70, Queens, 61, the Bronx, 33, and Staten Island, 19.
Nassau County had 82 reported incidents, down form 100 in 2008, Suffolk County had 80incidents, up from 62, and Westchester County had 23 incidents, up from 16.
Most of the hate crimes involved assaults or intimidation, 45 percent, or damage and destruction to property, 44 percent. A total of 179 individuals were arrested on hate crime charges in connection with the incidents.
Anti-Semitic incidents, which made up 37 percent of the reported hate crimes, were up 15 percent in one year, from 219 in 2008 to 251 in 2009.
The report found anti-black crimes, 21 percent of the total, were down slightly to 144 in 2009 from 147 in 2008. Anti-white hate crimes increased to 29 from 21.
Anti-gay hate crimes were up sharply, with those targeting male homosexuals jumping 32 percent, from 62 to 82, and those aimed at lesbians up by more than 200 percent, from eight to 25.
Crimes motivated by anti-Muslim sentiment rose to 11 from eight the year before.
“A hate crime is an offense not only against a specific individual, but against an entire community,’’ said DCJS Acting Commissioner Sean Byrne.
Reported hate crime incidents in New York City:
2009 2008
Manhattan 70 66
Brooklyn 92 117
Queens 61 40
Bronx 33 17
Staten Island 19 19
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