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Maryland

A graphic of a blue U.S. map with Maryland highlighted in yellow.

Fast Facts on Maryland Hate Crime Incidents*

Bias Motivation Categories by Year

Bias Motivation Category 2020 2021 2022
Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry 27 56 130
Religion 5 14 45
Sexual Orientation 7 12 30
Disability 0 2 6
Gender 0 1 2
Gender Identity 1 4 8
Total: 40 89 221

Types of Crime

Crimes Against Persons 128 52.9%
Crimes Against Property 107 44.2%
Crimes Against Society 7 2.9%

Bias Motivation Categories

Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry 130 58.8%
Religion 45 20.4%
Sexual Orientation 30 13.6%
Disability 6 2.7%
Gender 2 0.9%
Gender Identity 8 3.6%

 


*2021 was the first year that the annual hate crimes statistics were reported entirely through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).  As a result of the shift to NIBRS-only data collection, law enforcement agency participation in submitting all crime statistics, including hate crimes, fell significantly from 2020 to 2021.   


Case Examples

A Maryland man was charged with a hate crime for using a telephone to threaten an LGBTQI+ advocacy group.

According to the charges, on the evening of March 28, 2023, the organization received a voicemail saying “…We’ll cut your throats.  We’ll put a bullet in your head.” Investigators discovered that the voicemail was left by a phone number belonging to the defendant.

These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/howard-county-man-facing-federal-charges-allegedly-making-threatening-phone-call-lgbtq

A Maryland woman and a Florida man have been charged with conspiracy to destroy an energy facility, allegedly driven by their ideology of racially-motivated hatred. The two defendants schemed to attack local power grid facilities.

The defendants each face a maximum of 20 years in prison.

These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/federal-indictment-returned-charging-maryland-woman-and-florida-man-conspiring-destroy

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/maryland-woman-and-florida-man-face-federal-charges-conspiring-destroy-energy-facilities

A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging a Maryland man for threatening to attack a Baltimore-area synagogue on multiple occasions. The superseding indictment replaces the previous indictment, which only charged him with making threats in interstate communications.

In addition to the interstate communications charge, the suspect is charged with intentionally attempting to obstruct persons in the enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs through threats of force.

According to the superseding indictment, he made numerous telephone calls to an employee of a synagogue in Owings Mills, Maryland, and threatened to kill members of the synagogue’s congregations with firearms, explosives, and by burning the synagogue down.

If convicted, the maximum sentence is 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to 250,000.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/superseding-indictment-charges-man-making-threats-against-maryland-synagogue

 


News

November 1, 2023

Justice Department Leaders Join Maryland Attorney General to Announce Hate Crime Grants


October 31, 2023

Assistant Attorney General Amy Solomon Delivers Remarks at Reconciling the Past, Building the Future: Law Enforcement and Community Partnerships Against Hate


October 30, 2023

Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta Delivers Remarks at Reconciling the Past, Building the Future: Law Enforcement and Community Partnerships Against Hate


August 30, 2023

Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Issuing Threats of Violence to an LGBTQI+ Advocacy Group


April 4, 2023

Maryland Man Facing Federal Charges for Allegedly Making a Threatening Phone Call to an LGBTQ Advocacy Group


March 17, 2023

Assistant Attorney General Clarke Delivers Remarks at the 12th Annual Black Women’s Roundtable “Women of Power” National Summit


February 14, 2023

Federal Indictment Returned Charging Maryland Woman and Florida Man for Conspiring to Destroy Energy Facilities


February 6, 2023

Maryland Woman and Florida Man Face Federal Charges for Conspiring to Destroy Energy Facilities


July 19, 2022

New Jersey Man Sentenced for Sending Threatening Communications to Black Maryland Woman and Her Family


July 14, 2022

Maryland Man Indicted for Bias-Motivated Assaults of Men in Washington, D.C. Park


October 12, 2021

Texas Man Indicted for Sending Violent Threats to Prominent Maryland Doctor Who Had Been a Vocal Advocate of the COVID-19 Vaccine


September 15, 2021

FBI Baltimore Launches Hate Crimes Awareness Campaign


March 31, 2021

Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Baltimore Field Office Condemn Acts of Violence and Discrimination Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Urge Reporting of Hate Crimes


June 23, 2020

Maximum Prison Term Given to Man for Making Online Threats to Injure and Kill Hispanics


January 16, 2020

Superseding Indictment Charges Man for Making Threats Against a Maryland Synagogue


August 15, 2019

Federal Indictment Charges Man for Making Threatening Calls Against a Maryland Synagogue


 

Resources


Film/Documentary | Community Relations Service | Law Enforcement, Victim Advocacy Groups/General Community

On Common Ground - Episode 2: Strengthening Relations with Arab American Communities


DOJ Offices

FBI Field Office

FBI

 

Baltimore
2600 Lord Baltimore Drive
Baltimore, MD 21244

T: 410.265.8080
baltimore.fbi.gov


U.S. Attorney's Office

DOJ

 

Maryland (Baltimore)
www.justice.gov/usao-md/contact-us


CRS Regional Offices

CRS

 

Mid-Atlantic Regional Office
200 2nd & Chestnut Street
Suite 208
Philadelphia, PA 19106

T: 215.597.2344
F: 215.597.9148
askcrs@usdoj.gov

Updated November 30, 2023