Hate crimes have more than doubled in New Jersey in the past two years, according to new statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. And the increase last year came despite an overall drop in hate crimes nationwide.

The new statistics confirm a trend identified in a Kane In Your Corner investigation in September, which found a rising tide of hate and intolerance in New Jersey. That investigation featured interviews with Keith Brown, who was attacked aboard a New Jersey Transit train because of his Muslim faith, and Beronica Ruiz, who was beaten on a Passaic street because of her Mexican heritage.

The newly released FBI numbers show there were 571 confirmed hate crimes in 2018. That’s a 21.4% increase over 2017, and just over double the 282 cases reported in 2016. The crimes happened across the state. Evesham Township had the most, 23, followed by Neptune with 19, Lakewood with 18, Woodbury with 16 and East Brunswick with 15.

Nationally, the FBI reported hate crimes were down slightly, by less than 1%, although the number of violent incidents was up.

“Obviously any numbers of this magnitude are too great, whether they're going up or down,” says Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski.

The congressman has been outspoken on the issue of hate and bias in the past.

“I don't know whether they’re going up because New Jersey is just doing a better job reporting,” he says. “It certainly seems as if that was a factor because there are fewer groups reporting the numbers nationally and yet more sources of reporting in New Jersey. But look, either way, it's too much.”

More information about the Kane In Your Corner investigation can be found HERE. 

MORE: FBI Hate Crimes website