6-25-2024 4:36am

AG SAYS HATE

MD Launches Online Portal To Report Hate Crimes

The launch comes as hate crimes and bias incidents continue to increase in Maryland, according to Attorney General Anthony Brown.

The Maryland Attorney General's Office recently launched a new online portal residents can use to report hate crimes and bias incidents.

The launch comes as hate crimes continue to increase in Maryland, Attorney General Anthony Brown said in a statement. According to Brown, 465 hate crimes and hate bias incidents were reported in 2022 — up from 388 reports in 2021 and more than double those reported a decade ago.

"For too long, hate crimes have been underreported and underestimated, but victims don’t have to suffer in silence. I am listening," Brown said in a statement. "This new portal is a safe place to speak up. It will help us all understand how widespread these incidents are, so we can better address them."

According to Brown's office, the reporting form will be used to track hate crimes and bias incidents in the state and to help identify trends. The information collected through the portal will also help officials better respond to hate crimes in the state.

Residents should use the portal only after reporting the incident to the police.

"If you are the victim of or a witness to a hate bias incident or hate crime in Maryland, call 911," Brown said. "You can then report the incident using the office’s new reporting form for tracking purposes and to access resources."

All reports can be submitted anonymously.

The portal also contains information to help Marylanders identify hate crimes and resources for victims.

The Attorney General's Office released a video walking residents through the process of using the portal. The portal can be accessed at nohomeforhate.md.gov.