We are committed to protecting the rights and safety of University community members regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Incidents of harassment or assault will be responded to with seriousness and sensitivity.
University policies direct faculty, staff, and students to treat all people with dignity and respect. New York State law also contains special provisions for acts of criminal misconduct “ . . . that manifest evidence of prejudice based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. . .”
Hate crime statistics for 2021, 2022 and 2023
The University received no reports of hate crimes in 2021 and 2022. There were 7 incidents reported in 2023.
Hate Crimes Act of 2000
NYS Penal Law, § 485.00 Legislative findings
The legislature finds and determines as follows: criminal acts involving violence, intimidation and destruction of property based upon bias and prejudice have become more prevalent in New York state in recent years. The intolerable truth is that in these crimes, commonly and justly referred to as “hate crimes”, victims are intentionally selected, in whole or in part, because of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation. Hate crimes do more than threaten the safety and welfare of all citizens. They inflict on victims incalculable physical and emotional damage and tear at the very fabric of free society. Crimes motivated by invidious hatred toward particular groups not only harm individual victims but send a powerful message of intolerance and discrimination to all members of the group to which the victim belongs. Hate crimes can and do intimidate and disrupt entire communities and vitiate the civility that is essential to healthy democratic processes. In a democratic society, citizens cannot be required to approve of the beliefs and practices of others, but must never commit criminal acts on account of them.
Current law does not adequately recognize the harm to public order and individual safety that hate crimes cause. Therefore, our laws must be strengthened to provide clear recognition of the gravity of hate crimes and the compelling importance of preventing their recurrence.
Accordingly, the legislature finds and declares that hate crimes should be prosecuted and punished with appropriate severity.
NYS Penal Law, § 485.10 Sentencing
- When a person is convicted of a hate crime pursuant to this article, and the specified offense is a violent felony offense, as defined in section 02 of this chapter, the hate crime shall be deemed a violent felony offense.
- When a person is convicted of a hate crime pursuant to this article and the specified offense is a misdemeanor or a class C, D or E felony, the hate crime shall be deemed to be one category higher than the specified offense the defendant committed, or one category higher than the offense level applicable to the defendant’s conviction for an attempt or conspiracy to commit a specified offense, whichever is
- Not withstanding any other provision of law, when a person is convicted of a hate crime pursuant to this article and the specified offense is a class B felony:
- the maximum term of the indeterminate sentence must be at least six years if the defendant is sentenced pursuant to section 00 of this chapter;
- the term of the determinate sentence must be at least eight years if the defendant is sentenced pursuant to section 02 of this chapter;
- the term of the determinate sentence must be at least twelve years if the defendant is sentenced pursuant to section 04 of this chapter;
- the maximum term of the indeterminate sentence must be at least four years if the defendant is sentenced pursuant to section 05 of this chapter; and
- the maximum term of the indeterminate sentence or the term of the determinate sentence must be at least ten years if the defendant is sentenced pursuant to section 06 of this chapter.
- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when a person is convicted of a hate crime pursuant to this article and the specified offense is a class A-1 felony, the minimum period of the indeterminate sentence shall be not less than twenty