NY hate crimes increase slightly in 2010

ALBANY -- New York recorded 699 hate crimes last year, up 2 percent from 2009 and consisting mainly of vandalism, assault and intimidation based on religious, racial, ethnic and gender biases, state officials said yesterday.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services said 350 hate crimes were reported in New York City, up from 275 the previous year, while the total from other counties declined from 394 to 337. Another 12 cases were reported by police at state parks and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The hate-crime total included 460 crimes against people and 239 against property.

Acting DCJS Commissioner Sean Byrne characterized hate crimes as "very rare" among New York's 19 million people, roughly half of whom live in the city's five boroughs. He said these crimes represent "a tiny fraction" of the total. "The crime picture overall is very, very promising," Byrne said.

Major crimes across the state overall dropped over the decade from 557,485 in 2001 to 448,863 last year, as did the statewide crime rate.

The report said 31 percent of the hate crimes were anti-Jewish, 20 percent anti-black, 16 percent against male homosexuals and 8 percent against Hispanics. -- AP