FBI: Six hate crimes in Wyoming in 2008 LARAMIE, WY (wpr) - There were six hate crimes reported to the F-B-I from Wyoming law enforcement agencies in 2008. That number is down from 2007 but generally on par with hate crime figures from years previous to that. In 2008 there were apparently four crimes motivated by race and two based on religion. There were no hate crimes involving sexual orientation. The Matthew Shepard Foundation's executive director, Jason Marsden, says that is consistent with what he heard anecdotally, but the problem is there is no state hate crime law to help police decide what is and is not a hate crime.
"Because Wyoming does not have a primary hate crimes law there is no category in a given local police department in Wyoming to go into their computer system and run a quick report on how many cases were investigated under that statute because that statute doesn't exist."
Marsden says that means the reporting of hate crimes in the state is left up to the subjective view of individual police officers. But, he notes that almost all law enforcement agencies in Wyoming participate and that is positive sign.
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