Introduction
New York City College of Technology is deeply committed to preventing bias-related crimes that impact on the lives of its faculty, staff and students. Accordingly, the College and its Department of Public Safety are dedicated to full compliance with all applicable laws governing hate crimes.
Hate Crimes Defined
Bias or hate crimes are specified offenses motivated by the perpetrator's bias or attitude against an individual victim or group based on perceived or actual personal characteristics, including race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation. According to New York Penal Law Section 485, a person commits a hate crime when they commit a specified criminal offense and either:
- intentionally selects the person against whom the offense is committed or intended to be committed 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, disability or sexual orientation of a person, regardless of whether the belief or perception is correct, or
- Intentionally commits the act or acts constituting the offense 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, disability or sexual orientation of a person, regardless of whether the belief or perception is correct.
Specified offenses include assault, reckless endangerment, strangulation, manslaughter, murder, stalking, rape/criminal sexual act, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment, kidnapping, coercion, criminal trespass, burglary, criminal mischief, arson, petit/grand larceny, robbery, harassment, terrorism/supporting terrorism, criminal weapons possession/use, conspiracy.
Penalties for Hate Crimes
Penalties for the specified offenses are very serious and range from fines to imprisonment for lengthy periods, depending on the nature of the underlying criminal offense, the use of violence and the previous conviction of the offender. If those offenses are determined to be motivated by bias, they are considered hate crimes and the penalties are significantly enhanced.
In addition, students, staff or faculty who commit bias crimes are also subject to University disciplinary procedures and a range of sanctions up to and including suspension, expulsion or termination of employment.
NYS Hate Crimes Reporting Bill
Effective October 9, 2023, New York State enacted legislation to strengthen the investigation and reporting requirements for hate crimes occurring on college campuses. The new law supplements the NYS Education Law Article 129-A and supplements CUNY's responsibilities under the federal Clery Act.
Counseling and Support Services
Anyone who is a victim of a bias-related crime is encouraged to seek counseling from a trained mental health professional. For students, experienced counselors, trained to assist with the consequences of bias-related crime and/or bias-related crime trauma, are on hand at the College's Counseling Center to provide crisis intervention, in-office counseling, referral to other support services and self-help groups. Information on how to contact the Counseling Center can be found here: https://www.citytech.cuny.edu/counseling/
Students may also contact the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management (718-260-4981) if academic accommodations are needed.
Faculty and staff can get free short-term counseling assistance through the CUNY Work/Life program, https://www.citytech.cuny.edu/ofsr/work-life.aspx
If you believe you are experiencing or have experienced discrimination or harassment, as defined in CUNY’s Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy, please feel free to report this conduct through the University’s Discrimination and Retaliation Reporting Portal. If you have any concerns about your safety, please contact the Office of Public Safety located in Namm 109 (first floor), 718-260-5550.
Protocol for Responding to Hate Crime Incidents
All students, staff and faculty are encouraged to notify Public Safety or a Campus Security Authority (CSA) designated under the Clery Act if they experience or witness a hate crime incident. Designated CSA’s at the College can be found in the College’s Annual Security Report, located here: https://www.citytech.cuny.edu/public-safety/docs/studentrighttoknow.pdf
Once Public Safety or a CSA has been informed that a hate crime incident has occurred on campus, the protocol below must be followed to ensure that the incident is properly logged and investigated. Additionally, the College must inform the victim how they might receive proper support and assistance throughout the investigative process. Public Safety, with the CSA as necessary, will work collaboratively and take the following actions once informed of a hate crimes incident:
- Inform the victim of the resources available to them;
- Prepare a hate crimes incident report that will be noted on the Public Safety Crime Log;
- Notify the college President;
- Contact NYPD within 24 hours of receiving the report of a hate crimes incident; and
- Update the college’s Public Safety Crime Log once NYPD or NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force has determined that the conduct qualifies as a “hate crime” under NYS Penal Law 485.05. Only the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force can classify an incident as a hate crime.
Hate Crime Statistics
There were no reported hate crimes for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
There was one reported hate crime in 2024.
