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Campus Safety

Vassar College

Hate Crimes and Identity Based Incident

What is a hate crime?

Section 485 NYS Penal Law:

A person commits a hate crime when they commit a “specified offense” and intentionally selects the victim or commits the act, in whole or in substantial part, because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, religious practice, age (over 60), disability, or sexual orientation of a person, regardless of whether the belief or perception is correct, or not.

What is a “specified offense”?

A "specified offense" is any of the following or any attempt or conspiracy to do so:

  • assault (1st, 2nd or 3rd degree);
  • aggravated assault upon a person less than eleven years old;
  • menacing (1st, 2nd or 3rd degree);
  • reckless endangerment (1st or 2nd degree);
  • strangulation (1st or 2nd degree);
  • manslaughter (1st or 2nd degree);
  • murder (2nd degree);
  • stalking (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th degree);
  • rape (1st degree);
  • criminal sexual misconduct (1st degree);
  • sexual abuse (1st degree);
  • aggravated sexual abuse (1st or 2nd degree);
  • unlawful imprisonment (1st or 2nd degree);
  • kidnapping (1st or 2nd degree);
  • coercion (1st degree);
  • criminal trespass (1st or 2nd degree);
  • burglary (1st, 2nd or 3rd degree);
  • criminal mischief (1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th degree);
  • arson (1st, 2nd or 3rd degree);
  • petit larceny; grand larceny (1st , 2nd, 3rd or 4th degree);
  • robbery (1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree),
  • harassment (1st degree),
  • aggravated harassment (2nd degree)

Does a hate crime happen without another crime?

  • Usually, committing a “hate crime” means that a person has committed another crime with a motivation of bias toward the victim.
  • For example, criminal mischief is the crime of intentionally damaging someone's property without their permission. If the person intentionally damaged someone’s property because of that person’s race, then they have committed criminal mischief and they have also committed a hate crime.
  • The exception is the crime of aggravated harassment, which specifies certain acts as criminally biased conduct by themselves. These include damaging a religious building, setting fire to a cross, displaying a noose, or drawing/placing a swastika on any property.

Criminal Penalties

When a person is convicted of a NYS Penal Code Hate Crime and the “specified offense” is a

  • violent felony: the hate crime will be deemed a violent felony offense
  • misdemeanor or a class C, D, or E felony: the hate crime shall be deemed to be one category higher than the specified offense
  • Class B Felony: mandatory maximum terms must be used (from 6 years to indeterminate) based on sentencing
  • A-1 Felony: Minimum period of indeterminate sentence shall be not less than 20 years

The court may also require defendant to complete a program, training session or counseling session directed at hate crime prevention and education.

Reporting a Hate Crime or Identity Based Incidents

We encourage any campus community member who experiences or witnesses a Hate Crime to report the incident immediately by contacting:

*Vassar campus is equipped with emergency phones (also known as blue phones); these emergency phones are strategically located throughout College properties. The emergency phones are easily identified by their blue lights

Incidents that do not require an emergency response may be reported to Vassar College by:

Vassar Procedures

When a hate crime is processed through the local police department, Campus Safety will:

  • Arrange for the complainant to meet with the police and assist with providing summary information which can be used for investigative and legal procedures
  • Share summary information with the Community Expectation, Office for Institutional Equity/Title IX, and/or Human Resources Offices as appropriate
    • Refer to Vassar College Regulations for Vassar’s complaint procedures

When a hate crime or bias-related incident is reported through the Social Identity Harm SIH Reporting process, they will:

  • provide support to students affected by these incidents
  • gather data for further understanding
  • ensure reports are reviewed by the Office of Institutional Equity, Campus Safety, and Community Expectations
  • if the conduct rises to a potential hate crime, unlawful discrimination, harassment, or violation of College expectations, the case may be referred to law enforcement, community expectations or the Office for Institutional Equity for processing
  • if all parties consent, a path to restoration and healing for the affected individuals or communities may be provided
  • redacted versions of reports will be included in the annual SIH report
  • Clery and New York State Hate Crimes will be reported in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

On and off-campus support services can be found on the Dean of the College webpage.

Incident Documentation and Evidence Preservation

  • If possible, take a picture of any evidence
    • Do not destroy or tamper with evidence
    • Write down what happened, include:
      • the date time and location of the incident
      • the identity of the offender if known or provide a detailed description
      • a list of all witnesses and their contact information
      • oral vor written comments/drawings/markings/symbols (ex. Graffiti, social media postings, text, and other communications, etc.)
      • the property targeted, or objects or items taken or left behind
      • activity occurring at the time
      • past incidents of the same nature or in the same location, and/or the incident coincides with a particular holiday or event

* If police or Campus Safety are contacted ensure they are made aware of all evidence.

Methods used to advise and update students about security procedures

  • Security procedures information can be found in the Vassar College Security and Fire Safety Report, issued annually to all. These procedures are also shared:
    • during new student orientation and student fellow training
    • through the distribution of printed material to student rooms
    • on the Campus Safety website and
    • at organized events
  • During emergencies or when criminal activity poses an ongoing threat to the campus community, Vassar College’s Campus Safety Office issues timely warnings or emergency alerts. These communications contain a brief description of the incident; the date, time, and location of the incident; and precautions to take.
  • Campus Offices such as Residential Life, Campus Activities, Support Advocacy and Violence Prevention, Health Promotion and Education, and the Dean of the College also partner with Campus Safety to issue communications, hold educational events, distribute materials and maintain websites that advise and update students on security procedures.
    • Multiple means of communicating emergency information, including the Vassar College website, automated telephone and text messaging, an emergency siren, emails, and digital signage are utilized during emergencies.

*Students should email registrar@vassar.edu to update their phone and other emergency contact information.

Hate Crime Statistics