ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — State auditors say hate crime reporting by the New York Police Department and the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services should be more precise.
A law passed in 2000 requires all New York police agencies to report data on crimes motivated by prejudice based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation.
The state agency reported 720 incidents statewide in 2012, including 374 from New York City.
The NYPD’s numbers ranged from 378 reported by precincts to 367 by its Hate Crimes Task Force.
City officials say each unit does its own count, likely creating the differences, but agrees with auditors’ recommendation to reconcile them.
Auditors also say the state should clarify when crimes are motivated by more than one bias. The division is checking on computer programming options.
