Hate Crimes Remain Low Across The State
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) – Hate crimes in the state continue to remain at their lowest numbers since Florida began tracking them two decades ago.
On Tuesday Florida's Attorney General Pam Bondi reported that there were 149 hate crimes were committed in the state in 2010. The first-term Republican from Tampa said the hate crimes were reported by local law enforcement agencies throughout the state that provide data to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
More than 46 percent of the hate crimes were racially motivated and 21.5 percent resulted from sexual orientation. The report states 19.5 percent resulted from religious beliefs and 12.7 percent from ethnicity.
Florida reported 148 hate crimes in 2009. That was the lowest number since the state began tracking them in 1990. Hate crime reports peaked in 1992 with 395 cases.
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