Slight Rise in 2008 Santa Clarita Hate Crimes
In 2008, the number of hate crimes nationwide dropped. However, the Santa Clarita Valley actually experienced a slight increase in such crimes, with the number of reported incidents increasing from 27 to 30. According to the-signal.com, the increase in hate crimes has come at the heels of a decrease in the number of violent and other more common crimes. Compared to other county areas, Santa Clarita’s hate crime numbers are still relatively low, although current numbers are more than twice what they were in 2004. From 2007 to 2008, the Santa Clarita Valley saw an 11% increase in hate crimes, according to the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. Neighboring Los Angeles County meanwhile saw a 4% decrease in its number of hate crimes, although it still reported 729 hate crimes in 2008; a far cry from Santa Clarita County’s mere 30 incidents.
According to a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, the number of hate crimes “is increasing every year.” Hate crimes mostly center-around sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or religious beliefs. The degree and severity of a hate crime can vary greatly, with crimes ranging from simple acts of vandalism to more serious instances of assault. Consequently, charges associated with hate crimes can also vary. However, regardless of the crime, all details need to be thoroughly examined in order to determine as accurately as possible what actually happened.
