- Home
- Hate Crime Reporting
HATE CRIME REPORTING
Help Us Ensure Safety, Justice, and Accountability:Â Upholding Dignity Through Timely Reporting
Hate Crime Information
All allegations of hate-motivated violence or threats are treated with the utmost seriousness and will receive priority investigation by the Salinas Police Department. These incidents not only instill fear in individual victims but can also ripple through our community, risking escalation and retaliation.
For your convenience, we have included some resources from the State of California Department of Justice website at https://oag.ca.gov/hatecrimes/.
Hate Crime Reporting
Due to the sensitive nature of hate crimes, we do not offer online reporting for these incidents.
–Â For life-threatening emergencies, dial 911 immediately.
–Â For non-emergencies or advice, call our non-emergency line at (831) 758-7321.
An officer will be dispatched to your location to determine whether the incident meets hate crime criteria and to begin the investigative process.
If in Immediate Danger, Always Call 9-1-1.
Our Commitment
Investigating hate crimes is a priority for the Salinas Police Department. We are dedicated to ensuring that every person in Salinas can live free from crimes intended to intimidate or interfere with their civil rights—protected under the Constitutions of California and the United States—based on characteristics such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Hate incidents can fracture neighborhoods and sow division. We respond swiftly, not only to investigate and seek justice for victims, but also to address the safety and well-being of families and community members affected by these offenses. In response to this, our Department also has a Victim Services Advocate who you may contact if you need additional support.
Resources
Additional Local and State Resources
Definitions
Definition:
A hate crime is a crime against a person, group, or property motivated by the victim’s real or perceived protected social group. You may be the victim of a hate crime if you have been targeted because of your actual or perceived:Â
(1) Disability
(2) Gender
(3) Nationality
(4) Race or Ethnicity
(5) Religion
(6) Sexual Orientation
(7) Association with a Person or Group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics
Hate crimes are serious crimes that may result in imprisonment or jail time.
Definition:
A hate incident is an action or behavior motivated by hate but which, for one or more reasons, is not a crime.
Examples of hate incidents include:
→ Name-calling
→ Insults
→ Displaying hate material on your own property.
→ Posting hate material that does not result in property damage.
→ Distribution of materials with hate messages in public places.
What the Law Says
The U.S. Constitution allows hate speech as long as it does not interfere with the civil rights of others. While these acts are certainly hurtful, they do not rise to the level of criminal violations and thus may not be prosecuted. However, it is important to note that these incidents have a traumatic impact on the victims as well as on the community at large.
In California, under the Ralph Act, Civil Code § 51.7, your civil rights may be violated if you have been subjected to hate violence or the threat of violence – even where the incident does not rise to the level of a hate crime and may be otherwise constitutionally-protected from prosecution by the government – because of your actual or perceived: sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, political affiliation, and position in a labor dispute. A civil violation may result in restraining orders, injunctive and/or equitable relief, damages, a civil penalty of $25,000, and attorney’s fees.