8 Bias Crimes Reported In Holmdel And Hazlet In 2021: Report

HOLMDEL, NJ — In 2021, the Holmdel and Hazlet police departments reported a combined eight hate crimes in their townships, according to a recent report released by the Attorney General's office.

The exact nature of the crimes was not detailed in the report.

According to state officials, there was a significant increase in reported hate crimes in New Jersey last year, including Monmouth County.

In 2021, the County reported 199 cases of bias incidents. In the year prior, the county reported 197 bias incidents.

Meanwhile, people reported 1,871 bias incidents to law enforcement throughout New Jersey in 2021 — a record high, which the attorney general's office attributes to several potential reasons.

The 29 percent increase from 2020 likely reflects a combination of improvements in the process for reporting hate crimes, community outreach and other developments linked to a rise in hate crimes and bias offenses nationwide, officials said.

According to the preliminary data released by the state, anti-Black and anti-Jewish bias were the most common race- and religion-based motivations for reported bias incidents in 2021, as in past years.

Anti-Black bias was cited as a motivation for 686 reported bias incidents in 2020 and 877 reported bias incidents in 2021 — representing 39 percent of all reported motivations in both years. Anti-Jewish bias was cited as a motivation for 298 reported incidents in 2020 and 347 reported bias incidents in 2021 – representing 17 percent of all reported motivations in 2020 and 15 percent of all reported motivations in 2021.

The preliminary data also shows an increase in reported bias incidents against Asian people — 129 in 2021, an 87 percent increase from the 69 reports the prior year.

Additionally, the state office tallied 373 reported bias incidents against LGBTQ people last year — a 64 percent increase after 227 were reported in 2020.

Specific information on incidents in each county or town was not immediately available. To see New Jersey's bias report for 2021, click here.

With reporting from Sarah Salvadore.

Thank you for reading! Have a news tip, correction or comment? Email vianella.burns@patch.com. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter here.