According to a recent report issued by the Maryland Department of State Police in collaboration with the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center, hate bias incidents in Maryland saw a modest decline in 2025.
Law enforcement agencies across the state logged 884 hate bias incidents last year, indicating a 4.3% reduction compared to 2024. Out of these reported cases, 303 were confirmed following thorough investigations. Notably, 2023 marked a high point in the past decade, with officials recording 952 reported incidents of hate bias.
The Maryland Office of the Attorney General characterizes a hate bias incident as “any act or expression of hostility or aggression, driven by bias against a protected class (such as race, color, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, national origin, or homelessness) that does not qualify as a crime under state or federal law. Such acts, while lawful, can be harmful and offensive to the victim.”
The report outlines that verbal intimidation and vandalism or malicious property destruction were the most prevalent forms of hate bias incidents. The most frequent locations for these incidents included schools, residential areas, and public streets.
Montgomery County, recognized as Maryland’s most populous county, reported the highest number of incidents within the state. In total, there were 351 recorded incidents, which represents 39.7% of all state-wide occurrences. Moreover, the analysis revealed that an overwhelming 77.5% of all hate bias incidents related to K-12 schools originated in Montgomery County. Additionally, 13.1% of reported incidents were concentrated in four specific ZIP codes: 20852 (Rockville), 21061 (Glen Burnie), 20817 (Bethesda), and 20910 (Silver Spring).
Statewide data revealed that a significant majority of reported motivations, amounting to 59.6%, were connected to issues of race, ethnicity, or ancestry. The predominant motivation identified was anti-Black or African American bias, which has consistently been the most common form of hate bias recorded in Maryland over the last ten years. While incidents of religious bias declined, anti-Jewish incidents held their position as the second most reported category. Conversely, anti-Hispanic or Latino incidents experienced a notable surge, increasing from 39 incidents in 2024 to 66 incidents in 2025, marking a significant 69.2% rise. This is the first time in a decade that anti-Hispanic or Latino incidents have surpassed those categorized as anti-gay (male).
When considering known races and genders, Black males emerged as the most frequently identified victim group, while white males were the predominant offenders reported.
You can access the full report online.
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