Eleven hate crimes were reported in the Santa Clarita Valley during 2014 versus 16 in 2013 – a 31 percent decline. Hate crimes across all of Los Angeles County increased by just 1 percent, but it was the first increase in seven years.

That’s according to the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, which released its annual Hate Crime Analysis Thursday.

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The Santa Clarita Valley is considered part of Region II, known as the San Fernando Valley Service Planning Area, which includes all of the San Fernando Valley, Burbank, Glendale, Newhall, Northridge, San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Val Verde, Westlake Village, East and West Valley areas, according to the report.

There are about 2,215,358 people in this service area, based on Los Angeles Public County Department of Public Health and the Urban Research Division of Los Angeles County Internal Services Department totals. A total of 84 hate crimes were reported in the area in 2014.

Last year, 2013 had service area totals at 79.

The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations has compiled, analyzed and produced an annual report of hate crime in the county since 1980, according to the report. The annual report is based on data submitted by sheriff and city police agencies, educational institutions and community-based organizations.

Hate Crime Statistics for Santa Clarita Valley

The Santa Clarita Valley saw 11 hate crimes in 2014 and have been categorized, with some overlaps, as: one gang-related hate crime, one hate crime motivated by sexual orientation, three hate crimes motivated by religion and seven race/ ethnicity/ national origin hate crimes, according to the report.

Compared to 2013, when 16 hate crimes were reported in the Santa Clarita Valley, hate crimes appear to have decreased by about 31 percent. Nine racial hate crimes were reported, seven sexual orientation hate crimes, no religious hate crimes.

Hate Crime Statistics for Los Angeles County

The overall rate of violence rose slightly from 60 percent to 62 percent. The rate of violence in sexual orientation crimes has always been high, but it climbed from 71 to 81 percent, the highest since 2003, according to a news release. Anti-transgender hate crime continued to be the most violent of any major targeted group, with 93 percent of all such crimes being of a violent nature.

After trending downward for six years, hate crimes in Los Angeles County rose slightly (1 percent) from 383 to 389. This is the second lowest number reported in 25 years.

About 28 percent of hate crimes were motivated by sexual orientation and they grew 14 percent. After falling 41 percent the previous year, crimes targeting gay men rose 31 percent. The rate of violence for sexual orientation crimes grew from 71 percent to 81 percent, the highest rate of violence since 2003. This rate was much higher than the violence rate for racial crimes (68 percent) and religious ones (22 percent).

The overall rate of violence increased slightly from 60 percent to 62 percent. This is primarily due to acts of intimidation rising 16% and aggravated assaults increasing 13 percent (after falling the previous year).

Half of hate crimes were racially motivated and African Americans were targeted in more than 2/3 of those cases

About 19 percent of hate crimes were motivated by religious bias and 76 percent of these were anti-Jewish. Religious crimes grew 26 percent. After sharply declining 48 percent the previous year, anti-Jewish crimes rose 31 percent.

About 14 percent of all hate crimes were committed by gang members. about 62 percent of these crimes targeted African Americans.

Anti-transgender crimes declined 21 percent from 19 to 15. About 93 percent were of a violent nature.

The largest number of crimes occurred in the Metro Service Planning Area (SPA) Region IV followed by the San Fernando Valley SPA Region II. However if one accounts for population the highest rate was in the Metro Region SPA Region IV followed by the Antelope Valley SPA Region I.

What Are Hate Crimes?

According to California state law, hate crime charges may be filed when there is evidence that bias, hatred, or prejudice based on the victim’s real or perceived race/ethnicity, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender or sexual orientation is a substantial factor in the commission of the offense, according to the report. This definition is codified in the California penal code sections 422.55 to 422.95 pertaining to hate crime.

Evidence of such bias, hatred or prejudice can be direct or circumstantial, according to the report. It can occur before, during, or after the commission of the offense.

Hate speech is a criminal offense when the perpetrator has threatened violence with spoken or written words against a specific person or group of persons, according to the report. The threat must be immediate and unequivocal.

The aggressor must also have the ability to carry out that threat, according to the report Frequently, derogatory words or epithets are directed against a member of a protected class, but no violence is threatened or there is no apparent ability to carry out the threat.

Such hate incidents are important indicators of intergroup tensions, according to the report. They are not, however, criminal offenses. Such language is protected by free speech rights set forth in the California and U.S. constitutions.