Bias and Hate Motivated Crimes

Bias and Hate Crime Phone Number: 303-441-1595

The Bias and Hate Crime Hotline is monitored by Investigator A. McNalley who is the District Attorney Office Liaison. The hotline is not an emergency number and while messages are checked frequently the number is not answered. If you need immediate assistance please call 911.

Colorado Definition of a Bias Motivated Crime

A crime that is motivated, in whole or in part, by bias against race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation.

How the DA’s Office can help?

We can help coordinate with other local agencies to help people file reports, assist with the investigation, and help provide resources.

Why it is important to file a report?

It is critical to report hate crimes not only to show support and get help for victims, but also to send a clear message that the community will not tolerate these kinds of crimes. Reporting hate crimes allows communities and law enforcement to fully understand the scope of the problem in a community and put resources toward preventing and addressing attacks based on bias and hate.

It is just as important to report a hate incident as it is to report a hate crime. In some cases, a hate incident can occur that does not rise to the level of a crime, but it should still be documented. Documentation is important for these incidents because it may show a pattern of behavior.

Colorado State Laws that protect people from hate crimes.

Bias-Motivated Crimes CRS 18-9-121(2):

A person commits a bias-motivated crime if, with the intent to intimidate or harass another person, in whole or in part, because of that person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation, he/she:

(a) Knowingly causes bodily injury to another person.

(b) By words or conduct, knowingly places another person in fear of imminent lawless action directed at that person or that person’s property, and such words or conduct are likely to produce bodily injury to that person or damage to that person’s property.

(c) Knowingly causes damage to or destruction of the property of another person.

Harassment – Ethnic Intimidation CRS 18-9-111(1)(2):

(1) A person commits harassment if, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, he or she:

(a) Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches a person or subjects him to physical contact; or

(b) In a public place directs obscene language or makes obscene gesture to or at another person; or

(c) Follows a person in or about a public place; or

(d) Repealed

(e) Directly or indirectly initiates communication with a person or directs language toward another person, anonymously or otherwise, by telephone, telephone network, data network, text message, instant message, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium in a manner intended to harass or threaten bodily injury or property damage, or makes any comment, request, suggestion, or proposal by telephone, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium that is obscene; or

(f) Makes a telephone call or causes a telephone to ring repeatedly, whether or not a conversation ensues, with no purpose of legitimate conversation; or

(g) Makes repeated communications at inconvenient hours that invade the privacy of another and interfere in the use and enjoyment of another’s home or private residence or other private property; or

(h) Repeatedly insults, taunts, challenges, or makes communications in offensively coarse language to, another in a manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response.

(2) (a) A person who violates subsection (1)(a) or (1)(c) of this section or violates any provision of subsection (1) of this section with the intent to intimidate or harass another person, in whole or in part, because of that person’s actual or perceived race; color; religion; ancestry; national origin; physical or mental disability, as defined in section 18-9-121 (5)(a); or sexual orientation, as defined in section 18-9-121 (5)(b), commits a class 1 misdemeanor.
(b) A person who violates subsection (1)(e), (1)(f), (1)(g), or (1)(h) of this section commits a class 2 misdemeanor.
(c) A person who violates subsection (1)(b) of this section commits a petty offense.

List of police departments in Boulder County with their non-emergency contact numbers:

• Boulder County Sheriff’s Office: 303-441-4444
• University of Colorado Police Department: 303-492-6666
• Boulder Police Department: 303-441-3333
• Longmont Police Department: 303-651-8501
• Lafayette Police Department: 303-665-5571
• Louisville Police Department: 303-441-4444
• Erie Police Department: 303-441-4444