Report A Bias-Related Incident

The Pennsylvania Inter-Agency Task Force on Civil Tension welcomes and encourages reports of all Bias-Related Incidents in Pennsylvania.

A "bias-related incident" is any incident in which an action taken by a person or group is perceived to be malicious or discriminatory toward another person or group based on bias or prejudice relating to such characteristics as race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity OR any situation in which intergroup tensions exist based on such group characteristics.

Bias-Related Incidents may be violations of criminal law, such as "Hate Crimes," or violations of civil law, such as unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, education or public services.

Many Bias-Related Incidents are not violations of any law, yet they can create dangerous levels of tension that can escalate into violence or civil unrest. This is true of the Activities of Organized Hate Groups, and other public expressions of bias or hatred, including ethnic or racial jokes or name-calling in a school, workplace or community. If not addressed, such expressions create a climate in which people do not feel safe, valued or respected and in which more severe forms of tension can develop.

Read This First!

Reports of Bias-Related Incidents using this form are currently being received for informational purposes only. Submitting this report DOES NOT constitute a formal report to governmental or law enforcement authorities. NO IMMEDIATE, ACTIVE RESPONSE IS ASSURED.

If you are aware of a potentially criminal act, dial 911 to contact the police with jurisdiction in the local area where the possible crime occurred.

If you are aware of potentially unlawful discrimination, some other violation of civil law, or a serious, but lawful situation that you feel needs prompt attention in order to prevent escalating tensions, please contact one of these agencies:

Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
Division of Education and Community Services
301 Chestnut Street - Third Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17105-3145
(717) 783-8264 Voice
(717) 214-0584 Fax
(717) 787-4087 TT
http://www.phrc.state.pa.us

Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
Civil Rights Compliance Section
14th Floor of Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 787-0822 Voice
(717) 787-1190 Fax
Email: Contact Us
http://www.attorneygeneral.gov

Pennsylvania State Police
Heritage Affairs Office
Bureau of Criminal Investigations
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9718
(717) 772-5112 Voice
(717) 705-2306 Fax
http://www.psp.state.pa.us

You may print the form using one of the two following methods:

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• Plain Text document

Mail or Fax To:
Pennsylvania Inter-Agency Task Force on Civil Tension
c/o Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
PO Box 3145
Harrisburg, PA 17105-3145
(717)772-4340 Fax