Utah sharpens data on hate crimes; LGBTQ people are top targets
With the first full year of data collected in the National Incident Based Reporting System, the Utah Department of Public Safety reported Thursday that it had verified the occurrence of 96 hate crimes in the state in 2021.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Volunteer Juno Heath walks amongst the pride flags as the RaYnbow Collective hosts a Back to School Pride Night for BYU students at Kiwanis Park in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.
The prevalence of hate crimes in Utah and where they are happening is coming into sharper focus as state officials compile more uniform data that follows a federal reporting standard.
With the first full year of data collected in the National Incident Based Reporting System, the Utah Department of Public Safety reported Thursday that it had verified the occurrence of 96 hate crimes in the state in 2021.
State Bureau of Criminal Identification personnel analyze raw data reported by local law enforcement agencies to arrive at the verified total, Mandy Biesinger, BCI field services supervisor, said in an interview.
“We work with the agencies to confirm that everything is accurate,” she said. For instance, if credit card fraud is listed as the type of hate bias crime, it’s usually a case of a mistakenly checked box when an agency submits its data.
To read more, visit standard.net.
This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aim to inform readers across the state.
For over 150 years, The Salt Lake Tribune has been Utah’s independent news source. Our reporters work tirelessly to uncover the stories that matter most to Utahns, from unraveling the complexities of court rulings to allowing tax payers to see where and how their hard earned dollars are being spent. This critical work wouldn’t be possible without people like you—individuals who understand the importance of local, independent journalism. As a nonprofit newsroom, every subscription and every donation fuels our mission, supporting the in-depth reporting that shines a light on the is sues shaping Utah today.
You can help power this work.
Donate to the newsroom now. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible