Hate Crimes and the Law
SUNY Buffalo State is required to annually report campus crime statistics to the U.S. Department of Education as required by Title 20 of the U.S. Code Section 1092(f). This information can be found on the U.S. Department of Education’s website, which displays information for the last 3 calendar years.
The Office of University Police at Buffalo State is mandated to protect all members of the campus community by preventing and prosecuting bias or hate crimes that occur within the campus's jurisdiction.
Hate crimes, also called bias crimes or bias-related crimes, are criminal activity motivated by the perpetrator's bias or attitude against an individual victim or group based on perceived or actual personal characteristics, such as race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Hate/bias crimes have received renewed attention in recent years, particularly since the passage of the federal Hate/Bias Crime Reporting Act of 1990 and the New York State Hate Crimes Act of 2000 (Penal Law Article 485). Copies of the New York law are available from the Office of University Police, Chase Hall.
Penalties for bias-related crimes are very serious and range from fines to imprisonment for lengthy periods, depending on the nature of the underlying criminal offense, the use of violence or previous convictions of the offender. Perpetrators who are students will also be subject to campus disciplinary procedures where sanctions including dismissal are possible.
In addition to preventing and prosecuting hate/bias crimes, the Office of University Police at Buffalo State also assists in addressing bias-related activities that do not rise to the level of a crime. These activities, referred to as bias incidents and defined by the University as acts of bigotry, harassment, or intimidation directed at a member or group within the Buffalo State community based on national origin, ethnicity, race, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, color, creed, or marital status, may be addressed through the University's Complaint Procedure for Review of Allegations of Unlawful Discrimination/Harassment or the Code of Rights, Freedoms and Responsibilities for Students. Bias incidents can be reported to University Police, Chase Hall, as well as to the Office of Equity and Diversity, Cleveland Hall, room 517.
If you are a victim of or witness to a hate/bias crime on campus, report it to University Police by calling 878-6333 or by stopping by the Office of University Police in Chase Hall. University Police will investigate and follow the appropriate adjudication procedures.
Victims of bias crime or bias incidents can avail themselves of appropriate counseling and support services by contacting the Office of Equity and Diversity, Cleveland Hall, room 517, telephone 878-6210 and/or the Counseling Center, 2nd floor, Weigel Health Center, telephone 878-4436.
For general information on security procedures at Buffalo State, refer to the Code of Rights, Freedoms and Responsibilities for Students in the Student Handbook.
More information about bias-related and bias crimes, including up-to-date statistics on bias crimes, is available from the Office of University Police in Chase Hall.
