Salem, Oregon – The Oregon Department of Justice and the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission have put out the 2024 Bias Crimes Annual Report. It shows some concerning trends and changes in how hate and bias incidents are reported across the state. This year’s results show that the total number of reported bias incidents has gone down for the first time since the Bias Response Hotline opened in Oregon in 2020. Officials say this is both complicated and extremely concerning.
Attorney General Dan Rayfield talked about what the audit found, calling the results a “sobering gut check and a call to action.” Rayfield says that some Oregonians are less willing to report hate and prejudice crimes, while others are just now starting to feel safe enough to speak up. He underlined how important it is for everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, to feel safe reporting hate and getting aid if they are targeted.
The data shows that hate and bias reports fell by 7% in 2024, even if the number of calls to the Hotline went up overall. The decline was especially severe among the Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native communities, where reporting fell by 16%. Reports from those who don’t comply to gender roles also dropped considerably, by 34% compared to the year before. At the same time, reports from Asian, white, and female victims went up, which could mean that some groups of people are starting to trust the Hotline more, even if others are losing trust in it.
There were 1,216 occurrences of racially motivated targeting, which remained the most common type of report to the Hotline. 771 reports of incidents based on sexual orientation and 651 reports based on national origin came next. Alarmingly, the Hotline workers themselves were the subject of 244 prejudice incidents—representing a 165% increase over 2023—and endured more than 2,200 abuse or spam calls. The report says that personnel need stronger protections so they may keep helping without any problems.
One of the most interesting things that were discovered was that law enforcement referrals to the Hotline dropped by 58%, even though the number of victims who went straight to the police maintained roughly the same. This sudden drop in cross-reporting has raised concerns about less cooperation between agencies and the possibility of bias incidents going unreported or not getting enough support.
The yearly report additionally addresses why prejudice incidents happen. Most of the time, reports from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) people were about race. Reports from white victims were about their gender identity or sexual orientation. People who don’t fit into traditional gender roles are nonetheless targeted at higher rates than others because of their identity.
The report suggests a number of initiatives in reaction to these findings: adding more staff and technology to the Hotline, making victims’ privacy safeguards stronger, doing more research into how people report crimes, and continuing to teach police officers and district attorneys. Officials also want to make sure that activists who work on the Hotline get the help and tools they need, especially after being attacked themselves.
The Bias Response Hotline was set up in 2019 to help all Oregonians who have been affected by hate and bias. It offers help and advice to individuals who need it. You may find the complete 2024 report and an executive summary in several languages on the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission’s website. The Hotline remains available at 1-844-924-BIAS, providing interpretation in more than 240 languages to ensure every Oregonian can be heard.
