Hate crimes are criminal acts or attempts of such acts that may involve violence, threats, or property damage and are motivated in whole or in part by bias based on race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

A crime is an activity deemed so by the legislature.

Hate crimes are against the law and should be reported to the police immediately. An example of a hate crime is physically injuring someone where the assault is at least partially motivated by hatred or bias that is intended to intimidate someone based on their real or perceived race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

Bias incidents, while not criminal, can take the same toll on the educational environment as a hate crime. A bias incident is non-violent and may be protected by the First Amendment’s protection of free speech, even if it is hateful.  Examples could be distributing hate pamphlets or yelling racial slurs. Such incidents should also be reported to police and school authorities. These types of incidents often benefit from a prompt and decisive response from administrators to avoid such negative effects as escalating tensions and violent retaliation.

Harassment victims who live, work, or attend classes on campus and/or those who suffer harassment on campus can be assisted by the Campus Police. Students do not have to press charges, however reporting is encouraged in case of future problems and statistical purposes. Officers can also assist in obtaining restraining orders and involving the Office of Student Life or Residence Life in solving a problem.

The following are some potential charges:

• Disorderly Conduct
• Improper Use of Telephone
• Harassment
• Battery
• Intimidation
• and the “Hate Crime” Enhancer

All officers should be able to help with LGBT concerns.

In the last few years, there has been an increased focus on the reporting of hate and bias motivated incidents on university campuses across the nation. UWM defines a hate or bias-motivated incident as any disruptive conduct (oral, written, graphic or physical) that is against an individual, or individuals, because of their actual, or perceived, race, color, national origin/ancestry, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, veteran and National Guard status, marital status, pregnancy, political affiliation, or arrest/conviction record.

If you believe the incident involves criminal conduct, please call 911 or 9-911 (UWM campus police) from a UWM phone, in addition to completing the Hate/Bias Incident Reporting Form.

You may use this form to report any hate/bias incident that has occurred on:

1. UWM property, buildings or housing; and/or
2. UWM sponsored events or activities, regardless of location.