RAPID CITY, S.D. – An annual report that tracks hate crimes reveals that crimes reported to the FBI in 2018 are down from the year before.
The report shows that nearly 60 percent of hate crimes were motivated by race, ethnicity or ancestry. Religion accounted for more than 18 percent of hate crimes; followed by sexual orientation with nearly 17 percent. Other motivations were gender identity and disability.
According to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program’s annual statistics report, state law enforcement agencies reported 7,120 hate crimes for 2018. They reported 7,175 in 2017.
In incidents classified as crimes against people, 46 percent were intimidation; 34 percent simple assault and 18 percent aggravated assault. Also, 24 murders and 22 rapes were reported as hate crimes.
South Dakota reported 20 hate crimes to the FBI for 2018; 17 due to race, ethnicity or ancestry and three for sexual orientation.
By Community – 15
• Box Elder – 1 for Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry
• Brookings – 1 for Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry and 1 for Sexual Orientation
• Flandreau – 2 for Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry
• Huron – 1 for Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry
• Rapid City 1 for Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry
• Sioux Falls – 5 for Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry and 1 for Sexual Orientation
• Vermillion – 1 for Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry
• Watertown – 1 for Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry
By County – 5
• Meade – 1 for Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry
• Turner – 1 for Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry
• Brookings -1 for Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry
• Custer – 1 for Sexual Orientation
• Jones -1 for Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry
There was no data for Wyoming. While 57 Wyoming agencies participate in the program, none submitted any incident reports. Alabama is the only other state that didn’t submit a report.
