Hate Crimes & the Law

Hate or Bias Crimes

The University at Albany strives to protect all members of the University at Albany community by 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 national origin, ethnicity, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or creed, veteran status, color, or marital status. Hate/bias crimes are against the law and University at Albany policy. Copies of the New York law (NYS Penal Law - Article 485) are available HERE.

Hate or Bias-Related Incidents

In addition to preventing and prosecuting hate/bias crimes, University at Albany Police also assist 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 University at Albany community based on national origin, ethnicity, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or creed, veteran status, color, or marital status may be addressed through the University at Albany’s campus code of conduct.

Procedures to Initiate a Formal Complaint

If you are a victim of, or witness to, a hate/bias crime or incident on campus, report it to the University Police by calling 911 in an emergency, using a Blue Light Phone, a campus telephone calling 442-3130, or going directly to the University Police station. You can also report an alleged bias related incident to the Office of Judicial Affairs in CC 358 or call 442-5501. An investigation and appropriate adjudication will follow. The Vice President for Student Affairs is always notified regarding a bias-related crime or incident.

Services and Resources

All victims of, or witnesses to, bias-related crimes or incidents are encouraged to avail themselves of University counseling resources. Counseling and support services are available at the University Counseling Center at 442-5800. Additionally, staff in the Office of Student Life, Disabled Student Services, Residential Life, Judicial Affairs, the Offices of the Dean for Graduate and Undergraduate Studies and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs are prepared to help and support students in this situation.

Sanctions for Hate/Bias-Related Crimes and Incidents

The University at Albany considers hate/bias-related crimes and incidents as serious. In addition to criminal sanctions perpetrators of bias-related crimes or incidents shall be subject to sanctions under the University student disciplinary code which sanctions may include Disciplinary Probation, Suspension or Dismissal from the University.

More information about bias-related crimes, including up-to-date statistics on bias crimes is available from the University police on this web site or at 442-3130.

National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI)
University at Albany Campus Affiliate Chapter

In August 1994 a campus affiliate chapter of the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) was established at the University at Albany. Like the national organization, the chapter is dedicated to eliminating prejudice and intergroup conflict.

Chapter membership includes students, faculty, staff and administrators who have participated in a NCBI Three Day NCBI Train-the-Trainer Prejudice Reduction Workshop where they learned a variety of skills to help reduce intergroup conflict and to develop multi-group coalitions. Chapter members lead NCBI prejudice reduction workshops and conflict resolution programs for a variety of academic departments, programs and student groups. For example, the campus chapter has conducted workshops for the School of Social Work, the Graduate School of Public Administration, Project Renaissance, resident assistant staff, Middle Earth peer volunteers, Student Association and various student government groups.

Anyone interested in becoming a member, attending a workshop or arranging one for a class, group or organization is invited to contact the Department of Student Involvement & Leadership at 442-5490 for more information.

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