New Hate-Bias Incident Complaint Portal and Hotline
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced a new hate-bias incident complaint portal and a telephone hotline to simplify reporting hate-bias incidents to the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). Residents can report a hate-bias incident by visiting montgomerycountymd.gov/report-hate. Read the press release.
This is a Montgomery County, Maryland announcement.
What is a Hate Crime?
A hate crime is a crime or threat of a crime motivated by someone’s actual or perceived identity, such as:
- Race or Color
- Religious Beliefs
- Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity
- Disability
- National Origin
- Homelessness
Examples of hate crimes include:
- Threatening to attack a place of worship.
- Damaging or destroying religious property.
- Assaulting someone because of their perceived identity.
What is a Hate/Bias Incident?
A hate or bias incident is any action motivated by hate that may not rise to the level of a crime, such as:
- Offensive comments or slurs.
- Graffiti with hateful symbols.
- Discrimination or intimidation.
If you are unsure whether what happened is a hate crime or incident, you can still report it.
How to Report
You can report hate crimes or bias incidents in Montgomery County in several ways:
-
Complete the Online Reporting Form
- Takes 5–7 minutes.
- Accessible to residents, visitors, or anyone harmed.
-
Dial 311
- Speak with someone directly for help.
-
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Incidents
- Use this MCPS form (PDF) for school-related incidents.
Important:
If you are in danger or want to report a crime, call 911 or call 311 to report a non-emergency.
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