WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Hate crimes decreased last year even as more law enforcement agencies reported data, the FBI reported Monday.
The bureau reported 6,604 incidents in 2009, down from 7,783 in 2008. The number of agencies reporting rose from 13,690 to 14,222. The number of reported victims declined to 8,336.
Nearly half, 48.5 percent, of the incidents were motivated by racial bias, 19.7 percent by religion, 18.5 percent by sexual orientation, 11.8 percent by ethnicity or national origin and 1.5 percent by disability.
There were 4,793 hate crime offenses classified as crimes against persons in 2009 and 2,970 against property.
Of the 6,225 known offenders, 62.4 percent were white, 18.5 percent were black and the rest other races or unknown.
Of the 4,057 racial attacks, 71.5 percent were aimed at blacks. Of the 1,575 religion-based crimes, 71.9 percent were directed at Jews.
UPI
