Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody Monday unveiled the 2023 Hate Crimes in Florida Report, detailing a concerning rise in hate crime incidents reported to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) under the Uniform Crime Reporting system.
The report reveals a 36% increase in hate crime reports, growing from 229 incidents in 2022 to 311 in 2023.
Particularly alarming is the near doubling of antisemitic crimes during the year, coinciding with heightened national tensions following the terrorist attack on Israel in 2022.
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Attorney General Moody emphasized the importance of vigilance and reporting, stating, “Following the terrorist attack on Israel last year, the nation experienced an increase in antisemitic crimes. While Florida went to great lengths to protect our Jewish friends and family, hate crimes against them nearly doubled. We must continue to protect Jewish Floridians and all our citizens. If you know of a hate crime or any illegal act, please report it to law enforcement. You can remain anonymous by calling **TIPS.”
The report defines hate crimes as criminal acts motivated by hatred or bias against individuals or groups based on personal characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Key findings include:
- Total hate crimes: 311 incidents reported in 2023, up from 229 in 2022.
- Geographic spread: Hate crimes were reported in 35 counties, compared to 28 in the previous year. Nine counties reported hate crimes in 2023 after reporting none in 2022, while two counties reported none after reporting incidents the prior year.
- Top reporting county: Miami-Dade County submitted the highest number of hate crime reports.
Florida law addresses hate crimes under Section 775.085, Florida Statutes, which imposes enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by prejudice.
Additionally, the Hate Crimes Reporting Act (Section 877.19, Florida Statutes) mandates that law enforcement agencies report hate crimes to the FDLE, and the Attorney General’s Office publishes an annual report summarizing this data.
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The report stresses the importance of thorough and timely reporting of hate crimes to improve law enforcement’s ability to track trends, allocate resources, and design prevention programs. Enhanced reporting also allows policymakers to better target educational and enforcement initiatives.
Attorney General Moody urged Floridians to remain vigilant and proactive in reporting hate crimes to aid in prevention efforts and ensure the safety of all communities.
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