Announcing the 8th Judicial District Bias-Motivated and Hate Crime Hotline

The 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office announces the launch of a Bias-Motivated and Hate Crime Hotline to serve as an additional reporting tool for our community. 

In 2025, the District Attorney’s Office received questions from concerned community members about how best to report bias-motivated crimes, how to ensure their safety while reporting, and how our office could support those investigations and victims. 

This began a series of conversations with a variety of community stakeholders about what bias-motivated incidents looked like in their communities, what their current barriers to reporting were, and how to best address these concerns to continue to build a safe community for everyone. 

The result of those conversations was to create an additional, trusted outlet to report bias-motivated crime, given the fears that can often be associated with those incidents. Our new hotline will be one piece, in a larger network of community and law enforcement resources, designed to reduce barriers to reporting and seek justice for victims of bias-motivated crime. 

This is NOT an emergency number. If immediate assistance is needed, please call 911. Victims of crime are still encouraged to reach out to their local law enforcement agency. The District Attorney’s Hotline is not a replacement for the work of local law enforcement, but rather an additional option that will allow us to provide all avenues to support victims and collaborate on investigations. 

“I am incredibly proud that this hotline is now a reality,” said District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin. “I am grateful to the members of our team who made this a reality and for the willingness of our law enforcement agencies to partner with us on this endeavor to rally around vulnerable victims. Making sure that someone has their voice heard and removing barriers to reporting help achieve the goal we all share: protecting all members of our communities. Each call we receive that may have otherwise gone unreported, that is an additional opportunity to support a victim and an additional chance to hold an offender accountable to create a safer community.”

“I also want to thank the many community organizations who contributed their knowledge to this project to ensure we heard from voices who don’t always have access to the conversation,” said District Attorney McLaughlin. “It has been heartbreaking to hear from individuals and groups about bias-related incidents, and we want everyone to know we are a trusted partner committed to your safety and dignity.” 

Below are some common questions we will answer; please also reach out to our office directly. 

The hotline can be called 24/7 at 970-498-7150. 

What is 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. While Colorado law uses the term bias-motivated, the term is generally interchangeable with hate crime. 

How will my information be used?
When you call to leave a description of a potential crime, you will need to provide your name and contact information for any follow-up from our office or from law enforcement.

The District Attorney’s Office does NOT ask for or track any information regarding immigration status because our mission is to protect all victims of crime, regardless of citizenship. Protecting all victims makes our entire community safer. 

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

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

When should I call? 

You should call if you would like to have another option for reporting a potential bias-motivated crime, and the concern is not an emergency. Our goal is to reduce barriers in reporting bias-motivated and hate crimes in our community. We will work in collaboration with law enforcement if a crime has occurred. Reporting directly to your local law enforcement agency is always an option. If you are experiencing a crime in progress or are in danger, please call 911.

Please note that the hotline messages will not be monitored on the weekends.

Why is it important to file a report?

It is critical to report hate crimes to protect victims and vulnerable communities. Our community wants to send a clear message that we will not tolerate hate. Reporting hate crimes allows allocation of resources toward the prevention of bias and hate, and allows the opportunity to investigate and prosecute those responsible. 

It is just as important to report a hate incident as it is to report a hate crime. In some cases, a hate incident will not rise to the level of a crime. Understanding that distinction is one of the ways our office will help with your report. Documenting all incidents can help our community and law enforcement fully understand the scope of the problem and how to best address it.

What doesn't qualify?

Other types of discrimination (housing, employment, etc.) that are not criminal in nature cannot be handled by our office.

You can also learn more on our website: 

https://www.larimer.gov/bias-and-hate-motivated-crime