There are many local, State, and Federal agencies that are available that can provide information about hate crimes. Some of these are listed below.
City of Los Angeles
Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission works hand in hand with the Los Angeles Police Department to combat hate crimes within the City of Los Angeles. The City Human Relations Commission also provides assistance to victims of hate crimes, who may feel especially vulnerable. The Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission can be reached at: 213-978-1660.
Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County also has a Human Relations Commission which provides information and statistics on hate crimes gathered from the each year and presented to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The County Human Relations Commission also provides support and information on how to deal with hate crimes if you are a victim.
The Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission is one of the oldest and largest Human Relations Commissions in the nation. The Commission addresses hate crimes by responding directly to them, disseminating information to law enforcement agencies, the media, community-based and governmental organizations, supporting efforts on hate crime reporting, and helping to produce a Hate Crime Victims’ Rights video.
The Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission can be reached at:
Hall of Records – Suite 1184
320 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-974-7611
213-687-4251 (fax)
District Attorney
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office is committed to working with the Los Angeles Police Department to prosecute hate crimes as criminal violations and also has the power to seek a civil injunction against anyone who is interfering with another person’s civil rights by threatening violence. Hate crimes may be prosecuted as misdemeanors (lesser) or felonies (more serious) offenses, depending on the severity of acts committed. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office can also provide information on civil remedies that are available to victims of hate crimes. Civil remedies available include:
Restraining Orders: Once a restraining order is obtained from a court, persons upon whom it is served can be fined or jailed if they continue to threaten you or if they harm you or your property.
Actual damages: These include the cost of medical treatment, lost wages, repairing property, or payment for emotional suffering or distress.
Additional damages: A court may order an additional payment of up to three times whatever actual damages can be proven.
Civil penalties: The court may order a fine of up to $10,000.
Attorney fees: If your suit is successful, the court may order the person who violated your rights to pay your legal fees.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office can be reached at:
210 W. Temple St. Rm. 1800
Los Angeles, CA. 90012
Phone: 213-974-3512
State of California
The State of California Attorney General’s Office supplies information on hate crimes that occur throughout the State of California. Members of the public can obtain a copy of the report by downloading it from the California Attorney General Web site or by writing to the Attorney General’s Public Inquiry Unit at P.O. Box 944255, Sacramento, CA 94244-2550.
The California Attorney General can be reached at:
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
(800) 952-5225
California State Bar Association
What Should I Know About Hate Crimes
United States Government Resources
The Federal Government has several agencies that are available to provide information and aid to victims of hate crimes. The Federal government also supplies support for local law enforcement agencies. Information on hate crime statistics can be viewed at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Hate Crimes Report.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Suite 1700, Federal Office Building
11000 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90024
310-477-6565
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Los Angeles Field Division
350 South Figueroa Street, Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90071
213-894-4812
Van Nuys Office
6230 Van Nuys Boulevard, Suite 2019
Van Nuys, CA 91048
818-756-4350
Office of the Attorney General
888 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
213-894-2941Civil Rights Division
Freedom of Information-PA Branch, Room 7339
Washington, DC 20530
202-514-4209Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
633 Indiana Avenue
Washington, DC 20531
202-307 5983National Victims Resource Center
1600 Research Blvd.
Department F
Rockville, MD 20850
800-627-6872