Bias and Hate Motivated Crimes

Bias and Hate Crime Phone Number: 970-498-7150

The Bias and Hate Crime Hotline is monitored by an Investigator with the District Attorney's Office. The hotline is not an emergency number, and while messages are checked frequently, the number is not answered. If you need immediate assistance, please call 911.

Colorado Definition of a Bias-Motivated Crime

A crime that is motivated, in whole or in part, by bias against race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or transgender identity. 

When should I call? 

If you believe you or someone you know has been a victim of a crime because you are a part of a protected class. If you are in danger or experiencing a crime in progress, you should call 911.

What doesn't qualify?

Any form of discrimination (housing, employment, etc.). This hotline is only for potential criminal charges. 

For resources on how to report discrimination, please visit:

Housing

Employment

Public Accommodations 

Call the Hotline NOW:

How will my information be used? 

If we believe a crime has occurred, we will coordinate with our law enforcement partners to complete the investigation. The goal of this hotline is to try to reduce barriers to reporting while working within the current systems to report crimes in our community. 
 

If you have questions or concerns about how we are utilizing this information, please contact us.

Bias-Motivated Crimes CRS 18-9-121(2):

A person commits a bias-motivated crime if, with the intent to intimidate or harass another person, in whole or in part, because of that person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or transgender identity, the person:

(a) Knowingly causes bodily injury to another person.

(b) By words or conduct, knowingly places another person in fear of imminent lawless action directed at that person or that person’s property, and such words or conduct are likely to produce bodily injury to that person or damage to that person’s property.

(c) Knowingly causes damage to or destruction of the property of another person.
 

Related Websites and Resources:

• Department of Justice- Colorado Hate Crimes
• Colorado Statutes (Bias-Motivated Crimes)
• Hate Free Colorado
• ACLU Colorado
• Rocky Mountain Equality
• Colorado State Office of Equal Opportunity

Harassment – Ethnic Intimidation CRS 18-9-111(1)(2):

(1) A person commits harassment if, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, he or she:

(a) Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches a person or subjects him to physical contact; or

(b) In a public place directs obscene language or makes obscene gesture to or at another person; or

(c) Follows a person in or about a public place; or

(d) Repealed

(e) Directly or indirectly initiates communication with a person or directs language toward another person, anonymously or otherwise, by telephone, telephone network, data network, text message, instant message, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium in a manner intended to harass or threaten bodily injury or property damage, or makes any comment, request, suggestion, or proposal by telephone, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium that is obscene; or

(f) Makes a telephone call or causes a telephone to ring repeatedly, whether or not a conversation ensues, with no purpose of legitimate conversation; or

(g) Makes repeated communications at inconvenient hours that invade the privacy of another and interfere in the use and enjoyment of another’s home or private residence or other private property; or

(h) Repeatedly insults, taunts, challenges, or makes communications in offensively coarse language to, another in a manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response.

2) (a) A person who violates subsection (1)(a) or (1)(c) of this section or violates any provision of subsection (1) of this section with the intent to intimidate or harass another person, in whole or in part, because of that person’s actual or perceived race; color; religion; ancestry; national origin; physical or mental disability, as defined in section 18-9-121 (5)(a); sexual orientation, as defined in section 18-9-121 (5)(b); or transgender identity commits a class 1 misdemeanor.
(b) A person who violates subsection (1)(e), (1)(f), (1)(g), or (1)(h) of this section commits a class 2 misdemeanor.
(c) A person who violates subsection (1)(b) of this section commits a petty offense.