If this is an emergency, please CALL 9-1-1 or local police department.

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office is committed to protecting all individuals and religious institutions or organizations in Somerset County that can be targeted for a hate crime. The information provided may assist law enforcement into tracking potential bias/hate crime issues.

A bias incident or hate crime is defined as any suspected or confirmed offense or unlawful act which occurs against a person or property (public or private) on the basis of New Jersey’s nine protected classes: race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and national origin. Examples of bias incidents and hate crimes:

Sheriff Darrin J. Russo

• racially-motivated graffiti
• threats of physical harm
• property damage or bodily injury
• harassment

• assault
• terroristic threats
• arson
• criminal mischief
• homicide

Not all incidents turn out to be crimes, but any potential bias incident should be reported to the police as a bias incident so that it can be fully investigated.

You should report any and all suspected or confirmed bias incidents below or to your local police department.

• In other words, if you are a victim of, or a witness to, any offense which occurs against a person based on that person’s race, color, religion, gender, or other protected status, then you should report that incident.
• Try to note important information including license plate numbers, identifying physical features including any tattoos, scars, etc.