Hate crimes decline in Greenville County

November 25, 10:18 AMGreenville City Buzz ExaminerBrandon Leonard

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National hate crime statistics as compiled and presented by the FBI.

FBI graphic

Bucking the national and state hate crime totals for 2008, Greenville County had fewer hate crimes last year than in 2007, according to FBI reports. 

The latest figures released Monday by the agency showed Greenville County had only five reported cases of hate crimes in 2008, compared with six in 2007.

A hate crime is violence committed because of a person' race, gender, religious views, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability, according to the FBI news release.

Statewide, police agencies reported 26 more hate crimes in 2008, raising the year's total to 153. A similar increase also happened nationally. A total of 7783 incidents were reported, compared with the 7624 cited in 2007.

The study does not indicate hate crime trends. Slight yearly increases or decreases are common because the number of agencies reporting varies from year-to-year, according to the release. Sheriff's offices, police departments and other agencies voluntarily report hate crimes to the FBI.

More than half the hate crimes committed in South Carolina were motivated by race, according to the report. State law enforcement agencies cited 89 race-motivated crimes, 27 religious and 22 sexual orientation.