WASHINGTON - National Institute of Justice was directed by Congress to evaluate trends in hate crimes against immigrants and Hispanic-Americans and to assess the underlying causes behind an increase in hate crimes against such groups. In October 2010, NIJ contracted with Abt. Associates to conduct an analysis of trends in hate crimes using multiple data sources in selected states. On May 10, 2011, the researchers — Jack McDevitt, Professor, Northeastern University, Michael Shively, Senior Associate, Abt Associates, Inc. and Rajen Subramanian, Associate, Abt Associates, Inc. — presented a briefing on their work so far. The project is divided into two phases: Phase I features: Phase II, to begin in August 2011, involves fieldwork and surveys in the four selected states intended to provide contextual and supplementary information to augment and interpret the foundational secondary analyses conducted in Phase I. The presentation provided an overview of the project, the state selection process and preliminary findings of the Phase I analyses. The focus was on the assessment and analysis of data from the UCR and assessments of the utility of the NIBRS and NCVS data in pursuing the key research objectives. The objectives of the selection process were to select four states with: Objective indicators weighed in the selection process include data on: The UCR data are the most promising for analyzing trends and have the potential to be used for program evaluations, particularly data with a national scope and structured to allow time series designs. The data provide enough statistical power and sufficient reporting and coverage of the U.S. to determine the statistical significance of substantial events in a time series, such as the increase in reported hate crime following the attacks of September 11. The models of UCR data also suggest that there may be a slight rise in hate crimes against Hispanics from 2004-2008, although the effect is modest when some modeling techniques are used, and disappears in other types of models. Other preliminary findings of Phase I assessments of the data and analyses discussed in the presentation include: The presentation concluded with a discussion of Phase II activities and how the information acquired over the next year would be used to confirm and augment what was learned through the secondary analyses of Phase I.
Summary of the Research Briefing
State Selection Process
Preliminary Findings of Secondary Data Analyses