Bias Crimes Prevention

Hate Crimes and the Law 

It is a Monroe Community College Public Safety Department mandate to protect all members of the campus community by preventing and prosecuting bias or hate crimes that occur within the campus’s jurisdiction. 

Hate crimes, also called bias crimes or bias-related crimes, are criminal activity motivated by the perpetrator's bias or attitude against an individual victim or group based on perceived or actual personal characteristics, such as their race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Hate/bias crimes have received renewed attention in recent years, particularly since the passage of the federal Hate/Bias Crime Reporting Act of 1990 and the New York State Hate Crimes Act of 2000 (Penal Law Article 485).  Copies of the New York law are available from the Public Safety Department and on the website at ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article485.htm   

Penalties for bias-related crimes are very serious and range from fines to imprisonment for lengthy periods, depending on the nature of the underlying criminal offense, the use of violence or previous convictions of the offender.  Perpetrators who are students will also be subject to campus disciplinary procedures where sanctions including dismissal are possible.  

In addition to preventing and prosecuting hate/bias crimes, the Public Safety Department also assist in addressing bias-related activities that do not rise to the level of a crime. These activities, referred to as bias incidents and defined by the College as acts of bigotry, harassment, or intimidation directed at a member or group within the campus community based on national origin, ethnicity, race, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, color, creed, or marital status, may be addressed through the State University’s Discrimination Complaint Procedure or the campus conduct code.  Bias incidents can be reported to the Public Safety Department ands will be handled using the college’s grievance procedures (found in the college handbook on page 211).

 If you are a victim of, or witness to, a hate/bias crime on campus, report it to Public Safety by calling 2911 in an emergency, using a Blue Light or other campus emergency telephone or stopping by Public Safety.  The Department will investigate and follow the appropriate adjudication procedures.  

Victims of bias crime or bias incidents can avail themselves of counseling and support services from the campus through the Counseling Center. 

More information about bias-related and bias crimes, including up-to-date statistics on bias crimes and general information on campus security procedures, is available at www.monroecc.edu/depts/pstd/index.htm , or call (585) 292-2900.