It is any criminal act coupled with overt actions motivated by bigotry and bias including, but not limited to, a threatened, attempted or completed overt act motivated at least in part by racial, religious, ethnic, handicap, gender or sexual orientation prejudice, or which otherwise deprives another person of his constitutional rights by threats, intimidation or coercion, or which seeks to interfere with or disrupt a person's exercise of constitutional rights through harassment or intimidation.

What To Do If You Are a Victim 

1. Call the police immediately.
2. If you are victimized by graffiti DO NOT clean it off.  Handwriting samples may be useful in the investigation.
3. Pay close attention to threatening remarks made by the perpetrator so that you can accurately report them to the responding police officer.  That will be important when the case goes to court.
4. DO NOT engage in an argument with the perpetrator.  This may encourage him to become violent.  Leave the scene as quickly as you can and call police.
5. Pay attention to anyone else who may have witnessed the crime.
6. Try to obtain an accurate description of the suspect. This will help police to locate him.

• The first concern of the responding officers will be for your safety.  If medical treatment is necessary, an ambulance will be called and you will be transported to Salem Hospital for treatment. 
• An officer will also want to take photographs of any injuries for evidence. 
• A description of the perpetrator will be obtained and transmitted to all other patrol officers.  There may be a chance he/she is still in the area and can be apprehended. 
• You will be required to give a statement describing the incident. 
• If the perpetrator is a stranger, you may be asked to assist an officer in putting together a composite sketch for identification purposes. 
• If the assailant is caught, you may be required to go to court and testify.
• REMEMBER...if you decide not to proceed with charges, there is a chance this person may repeat his crime by victimizing someone else.