OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington Attorney General’s Office will test a pilot version of its hate crime hotline in three counties, including Spokane, over the next year.
The legislature created the statewide hotline earlier in 2024 through bipartisan support of Senate Bill 5427. The hotline will also be tested in King and Clark counties. The hotline will become available on July 1 and will be staffed during business hours. The number for the hotline has not been announced.
According to Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office, this is a first-of-its-kind hotline where people can report hate crimes and bias incidents. The hotline will also help collect data on hate crimes that currently do not exist. Ferguson’s office said it will publish an annual report on hate crimes and bias incidents in the state.
Through the hotline, reporting parties will receive referrals for support services or counseling. The hotline will also be a new resource for police. The hotline will share information with law enforcement when tips involve potential crimes and the person reporting the crime consents.
“The ripples of harm from hate crimes and bias incidents extend beyond the victims who are directly impacted — and they must not be tolerated,” Ferguson said in a press release. “This pilot will set the foundation for a first-of-its-kind centralized, statewide resource for Washingtonians to report hate crimes and bias incidents. The hotline will help victims of hate crimes and bias incidents find culturally appropriate resources and support. We must all work together to combat hate and stand up for individuals and communities who are harmed.”
The AG’s office will also create an advisory committee to help design the hotline’s operation. The committee will provide advice on outreach, delivery of services and funding as well as help build a network of organizations where callers can be referred. The committee will include members of legal aid organizations, local, culturally specific service providers, community organizations who work with underserved communities and state agencies. It will also create the hotline’s policies and data collection procedures.
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