New York sets out to expand the definition of hate crimes, impacting Jewish community

• Published date: 19 April 2024
• Author: LUKE TRESS/JTA
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Gov. Kathy Hochul is trying to change that

In January, during her State of the State address, Hochul said she aimed to add another 31 offenses to the list of potential hate crimes, citing increases in antisemitism and Islamophobia.

On Monday, the governor, a centrist Democrat, said passing the hate crimes legislation was part of an agreement she had reached with legislative leaders in negotiations over the state budget. The legislation passed the State Assembly on Thursday and now heads to the State Senate.

Dedicated to stopping hate

"The rising tide of hate is abhorrent and unacceptable, and I'm committed to doing everything in my power to keep New Yorkers safe," Hochul said in January. "We will never rest until all New Yorkers feel safe, regardless of who they are, who they love, or how they worship."

The expansion of the hate crimes law comes as Jewish organizations and lawmakers have demanded action amid a reported spike in antisemitism following October 7. While many Jewish groups are cheering the additions, some fear that they encourage sending even more people to prison. One criminal justice professor questioned whether adding offenses to the list would actually deter some would-be perpetrators of minor offenses.

"Essentially, for hate crimes, we're making the penalties more severe, and there's been a whole lot of hate lately, so I think this is a good thing," said Bronx Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, a Jewish Democrat who has pushed for the expansion. "The numbers were way too high before October 7, but since October 7, the problem's gotten so much worse."

Law enforcement agencies and watchdogs have reported that since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, antisemitism has spiked in New York and across the country. According to NYPD data, between the start of October and April 1, there were 253 antisemitic incidents reported to police, nearly double the number during the same period last year. An Anti-Defamation League audit released on Tuesday said antisemitic incidents more than doubled nationwide year over year, also increasing in New York.

In November, Dinowitz and a group of other lawmakers sponsored bills in the State Senate and Assembly that would have made severe criminal offenses like gang assault, rape, and murder prosecutable as hate crimes. They also included lesser offenses like graffiti and "jostling," a crime similar to pickpocketing.

"Hate crimes harm not just the victim but the larger community. It is important that...