Description of the Indicator
The hate crimes data indicator tracks the number of reported hate crimes in the studied geographies and the bias motivation behind them. It is sourced from the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System.
Why is it important?
Hate crimes have adverse physical and psychological effects on their victims. In addition, crime detracts from the quality of life of those who directly experience and witness it, impacting the lives of others within the community. It harms a region’s attractiveness as a place to live, work, and do business. This indicator reveals the extent of the need to mitigate the ill effects of hate crime victimization.
How is the region performing?
Lackawanna County has experienced a significant decrease in hate crime reports in the last year, dropping from ten to three. There were 269 reported hate crimes in Pennsylvania in 2024, compared to 83 in 2019. There was a slight decline in 2025, with 214 hate crimes reported. Across the four-county region in 2025, most hate crime bias motivation was related to race/ethnicity/ancestry (75.0 percent) and religion (16.7 percent).