Oregon's Bias Hotline Staff Faced a 165% Increase in Harassment in 2024, Report Says

‘Sobering gut check’: Report shows more spam calls, less victim reports to Oregon bias hotline

The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission published their report on July 1, detailing a 7% drop from 2023 to 2024 in reports to the state’s Bias Response Hotline.(D3sign stock photo via Getty Images)A surge in harassment and spam calls to a statewide hotline for victims of hate and bias crimes, and an unusual decrease in legitimate bias complaints being reported, is prompting calls for reform from state officials. The Oregon Criminal Justice Commis…

Oregon's bias hotline staff faced a 165% increase in harassment in 2024, report says

Bias incidents in Oregon declined in 2024 for the first time in four years, but the data shows uneven drops across different demographic groups.

Oregon’s bias hotline sees first decline in reports since launch

But the state Department of Justice cautioned the 7% drop in 2024 could be attributed to underreporting, rather than a decrease in bias incidents.