Seattle To Consider 'Hate Crime' Designation In City Code

SEATTLE, WA — The Seattle City Council will consider changing city code to create a "hate crime" designation in place of the state malicious harassment law. The possible change comes after the City Auditor recently found an enormous increase in reported hate crimes in Seattle.

Under current city code, Seattle uses the state's malicious harassment designation for misdemeanors and felonies that involve bias against someone involving race, sex, and other attributes. Misdemeanors are handled in Seattle Municipal Court, and felonies are sent to King County for prosecution.

If approved, the city would use the term "hate crime motivation" in city code rather than "malicious harassment." The law would also require anyone convicted in municipal court to either attend training or perform a community service that would prevent future bias crimes. The change would also require the city attorney to provide Council an annual report on hate crimes.

On May 9, the City Auditor released a report showing that Seattle had 521 hate crime reports in 2018, up from 106 in 2012. Of particular concern, hate crime assaults rose 524 percent since 2012 to more than 150 cases in 2018.

The City Council's Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development, and Arts Committee will discuss the change on Tuesday.