Toronto Hate Crime Trends and Reporting Factors

Hate Crimes: Week 10

Hate Crime Statistics in Toronto

Three most frequently reported criminal offences motivated by hate in 2021 were mischief to property, assault, and uttering threats.

Most Frequently Victimized Groups

• Jewish → Black → East and Southeast Asian, and then the LGBTQ2S+ community.

Events That Affect Hate Crime Reporting

• International events

• Community educational programs and hate crime training

• Increased media coverage and public awareness

• Toronto 2021: there was a notable increase in hate crimes targeting East and Southeast Asian people in the month of March.

  • This coincides with the Atlanta spa shooting on March 16, 2021, where 6 of the 8 victims were Asian women.

Why Victims Are Reluctant to Report Hate Crimes

• May not recognize that the crime was motivated by bias or hate.

• Fear of retaliation.

• Uncertainty about the criminal justice system’s response.

• Victims may fear their sexual orientation will be exposed to family members or their employer.

• Embarrassment and humiliation of being victimized.

Definition of a Hate Crime

Hate crimes are based on a personal or group bias that targets another social group with an actual or perceived specific identity. Hate crimes are unique in the sense that motivation is a determining factor: the same act could be classified as a hate crime or not, depending on the perpetrator's motive.

Definition of Securitization Theory

The process through which security threats are constructed. Mavelli (2013) states that there has been a “securitization of Islam” (p. 159).

Explanation of Possible Reasons Why Hate Crimes Happen

Factors Leading to Hate Crime

• Economic struggle — 'blame the immigrants'.

• Perceptions of diversity as either a benefit or a harm.

• Education.

• Political discourse.

The Harm Caused by Hate Crimes

• Hate crimes have a disproportionately greater effect on their victims than other types of crimes.

• Hate-motivated crimes have longer-lasting, serious side effects for society as a whole.

• A hate-motivated crime victimizes the entire group the person belongs to, resulting in increased isolation, stress, and vulnerability of that particular group.

• Police response needs to be immediate.