| Hate crime is a social problem that has been identified as a priority by governments, academics, equality-seeking groups, and certain members of the general public. Police departments have reacted by creating hate crime initiatives and the Canadian government has responded by implementing revisions to the Criminal Code that allow for increased penalties for crimes motivated by hate. In addition, some preliminary attempts have been made to estimate the prevalence of hate-motivated crime in Canada. However, comprehensive data are needed to inform discussions about policy and about the magnitude and dimensions of the problem. Statistics Canada, through the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, has underway a study to collect data on hate-motivated crime. The objectives of the study are to assess the prevalence and characteristics of hate crimes, the policy and procedures in place to respond to these crimes, and to make recommendations for ongoing data collection. The analysis of this paper compares results of data provided by police departments, a national self-reported victimization survey, as well as certain community organizations. In addition to actual hate crime data, profiles of various Canadian communities are provided. This presentation will discuss the methodology used for this study, efforts by other jurisdictions, a comparative analysis of readily available data, as well as the advantages and limitations of collecting national hate crime statistics. |
Updated 05/20/2006