2023 LA County Hate Crime Report

The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations (Commission) has produced an annual hate crime report since 1980, one of the longest standing efforts of its kind in the nation. Hate crimes are serious violations of state, federal, and international law as well as flagrant violations of internationally recognized human rights. The Commission collects reports from every law enforcement agency in Los Angeles County, as well as from some colleges, school districts, and community-based organizations.

Hate crimes documented in the year 2023 grew to a peak and set multiple records for highest counts of certain targeted groups—African Americans, Asians, Jewish people, Latino/as, LGBT* individuals, and transgender people—and included highest counts for anti-immigrant slurs, Middle East conflict related crimes, and crimes with evidence of White supremacist ideology. These numbers are unprecedented but also a testament to the work of our Commission in responding to and addressing hate. For example, our LA vs Hate system provides safe ways for people to report hate and has substantially increased awareness of the importance of reporting. We also received substantially more reports for 2023 from well-established sources such as community-based organizations, schools, and law enforcement jurisdictions. As a result, this report demonstrates that more and more victims of hate in LA County are no longer remaining silent.

Documented hate crimes represent only a portion of hate crimes actually committed in any year. The U.S. Justice Department has reported that more than half of all hate crimes are not reported to law enforcement. We can expect that an even greater portion of non-criminal hate acts are not reported.

Significant findings from the 2023 Report:

• Reported hate crimes dramatically increased 45% from 930 in 2022 to 1,350 in 2023, the largest number in the history of this report and surpassing the 1,031 hate crimes from 2001 when the September 11th attacks occurred.

• There were 99 anti-transgender crimes, representing a 125% increase. This is the largest number ever documented. A staggering 97% of these crimes were violent.

• Religious crimes spiked 90% and were the second largest motivation. Anti-Jewish hate crimes rose 91% from 127 to 242. This is the largest number of anti-Jewish crimes ever recorded.

• African Americans were again grossly over-represented in reported racial hate crimes, constituting 49% of racial hate crime victims. The 320 anti-Black crimes were the highest number ever recorded.

• Anti-LGBT* crimes rose 48% from 173 to 256. This was the largest number ever documented. 73% of these crimes targeted gay men.

• Anti-Latino/a crimes rose 19% from 121 to 144. This is the highest number ever recorded. Racial crimes targeting Latino/as were the most violent
  (87%) of all racial and ethnic groups.

• Anti-Asian crimes, after dipping the year prior, increased 31%. The 80 victims were the second highest number ever recorded.

• In 2023, there were 209 crimes with evidence of White supremacist ideology, and this was the highest number ever recorded in this report. They comprised 15% of all reported hate crimes.

• Hate crimes in which anti-immigrant slurs were used climbed 31%. The 123 crimes recorded in 2023 comprised the largest number ever recorded. Suspects used anti-immigrant language in 71% of anti-Latino/a crimes and in 18% of anti-Asian offenses.

• Crimes in which there was specific language regarding conflict in the Middle East sharply increased from 2 to 64 in 2023 and accounted for 5% of all hate crimes. This is the largest number ever recorded since we began tracking this phenomenon in 2007.

• Hate crimes taking place at schools grew 46% from 93 to 136 and accounted for 10% of all hate crimes. Over half (57%) of hate crimes that occurred in schools were motivated by race, ethnicity, or national origin.

• There were sharp increases in hate crimes based on gender (142% increase), religion (90%), and sexual orientation (48% increase). Race, ethnicity, and national origin was by far the most common motivation, constituting 45% of all hate crimes. These crimes jumped 18%, from 547 to 646.

• 65% of reported hate crimes were of a violent nature compared to 72% the year prior. Vandalisms surpassed violent simple assaults, creating a drop in the percentage of violent crimes.

• The largest number of hate crimes took place in the Metro Region which stretches from West Hollywood to Boyle Heights, followed by the San Fernando Valley

The LA vs Hate program provides a direct response to the rising rates of hate in LA County. It also provides a safe pathway for residents to report both hate crimes and hate incidents, particularly if those individuals are hesitant to report to law enforcement. This reporting mechanism helps capture additional information about the state of hate in LA County, including the hate incident statistics that are not included in the Hate Crime Report above. Finally, and of critical importance, LA vs Hate provides care coordination and free support services directly to hate survivors and their communities.

Significant findings from the July 2023- June 2024 LA vs Hate Program Evaluation:

• In 2023-2024, 848 reports of hate were submitted to LA vs Hate and 39% received care coordination services.

• There was a 22% increase in the number of hate reports received in comparison to last year.

• Majority of victims of hate who reported their experience to LA vs Hate learned about the system’s services through their marketing, pamphlets, and signage. 

• Reported hate incidents mostly occurred in residential locations.

• Race, ethnicity, or national origin was the most common motivation perceived by victims.

• The four most common types of hate crimes or incidents reported were discriminatory treatment (58%), derogatory names (46%), threats of violence (39%), and physical assault or battery (28%), reflecting trends observed in the 2022-2023 reports.