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Touro Policy on Bias-Related Crimes


Touro is committed to safeguarding the rights of its students, faculty, and staff and to provide an environment free of bias and prejudice. Under New York Law criminal activity motivated by bias and hatred toward another person or group based upon a belief or perception concerning race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation is illegal and punishable not only for the underlying crime, but, additionally, as a hate crime pursuant to the New York Penal Law# 485, et, seq. specifically Law # 485.05.

In the tables that list hate crimes, Touro is required to apply federal regulations for the “counting” of hate crimes, which is different from the New York State law as outlined below. The crimes listed can be considered hate crimes under certain conditions:

  • Assault (1st, 2nd and 3rd Degree)

  • Aggravated Assault on a Person Less than 11 Years Old

  • Menacing (1st, 2nd and 3rd Degree)

  • Reckless Endangerment (1st and 2nd Degree)

  • Manslaughter (2nd Degree)

  • Stalking (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Degree)

  • Criminal Sexual Acts (1st Degree)

  • Sexual Abuse (1st Degree)

  • Aggravated Sexual Abuse (1st and 2nd Degree)

  • Unlawful Imprisonment (1st and 2nd Degree)

  • Kidnapping (1st and 2nd Degree)

  • Coercion (1st and 2nd Degree)

  • Burglary (1st, 2nd and 3rd Degree)

  • Criminal Mischief (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Degree)

  • Arson (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Degree)

  • Petty Larceny

  • Grand Larceny (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Degree)

  • Robbery (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Degree)

  • Harassment (1st Degree)

  • Aggravated harassment

  • Simple Assault

  • Larceny Theft

  • Intimidation

  • Destruction/damage/vandalism of property

In addition, any attempt or conspiracy to commit any of these crimes is also punishable as a hate crime. A person convicted of a hate crime will be subject to certain sentencing guidelines for felonies that impose a more severe penalty than similar but non-hate crime offense.

A hate crime conviction may also subject the offender to monetary penalties pursuant to the Law of their state. Any incident or attempt to commit a hate crime should be reported to the Campus Security Director, Kevin Paynter at 3 Times Square, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10036; phone number (646) 565-6134; or by calling 1-88-Touro-911 (1-888-687-6911); or your Campus Security Department in your state.

Reported incidents of hate crimes and attempts to commit hate crimes will be referred to the NYPD and/or other law enforcement agencies for further investigation and legal action. Touro treats all hate crimes as serious offenses that need to be prosecuted with the full force of the legal system.