MARYLAND NEWS – Montgomery County launches hate crime reporting system

Laila Kirkpatrick, Staff Writer

Montgomery County, Maryland, recently launched a new way to report hate and bias incidents. For the first time, the hate crime reporting system can take into account and investigate online hate crimes.

The county reworked its system to include online incidents because of forums and chatrooms that have spurred more hate crimes. People can file reports anonymously or with their names. Those filing can also choose to provide an email for follow-up communication.

The county invested in the new system in the wake of an extreme rise in antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes following the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel by the terrorist group Hamas.