Georgia hate crimes spike in 2021; underreporting remains an issue

A police officer is seen on scene where a shooting occurred, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, at a condominium in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Hate crimes in Georgia are the highest they’ve been in 30 years, according to a supplemental report released by the FBI in March.

Experts say while the FBI’s numbers provide a useful glimpse into how police enforce hate crime laws, they represent only a fraction of bias-related incidents.

The report, mandated under the Hate Crime Statistics Act of 1990, is compiled from the voluntary submissions of law enforcement agencies.