Your rights if you face hate violence or threats in California

This page explains your rights and options. It is general information, not legal advice, and DNLH is not a crisis line or a law office. If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

What happened to you was wrong, and it was not your fault. You do not have to carry it alone.

What counts as hate violence?

California's Civil Rights Department lists acts like these as hate violence (CRD hate violence page):

• Threats, spoken or written, including online
• Hitting, attacking, or trying to attack
• Hate graffiti, including swastikas
• Bomb threats, arson or cross burning
• Damaging your car, home or property
• Disrupting a religious service

It is hate violence when it happens because of who you are, or who someone thinks you are. California protects people based on many traits, including immigration status, citizenship, national origin, primary language, race, color, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex, disability, age and political affiliation (CRD).

Not every act of hate is a crime. Some acts break civil law even if police do not charge anyone. You can still use the civil options below.

Which laws protect me?

The Ralph Act (Civil Code 51.7) protects you from violence, or threats of violence, because of a protected trait. CRD enforces it. A court can order (CRD):

• Actual damages: medical bills, lost wages, property repair and emotional distress
• Punitive damages to punish the person
• A $25,000 civil penalty, paid to the person who filed
• Attorney's fees
• A restraining order. Breaking it can bring fines or jail.

The Bane Act (Civil Code 52.1) protects you when someone uses threats, intimidation or coercion to stop you from using your legal rights, like going to school, worshiping, voting or living in your home. Words alone count only if they threaten violence, you reasonably fear it, and the person seems able to carry it out. You can sue for damages, and courts can order the person to stop.

Hate crime law. A crime done in whole or in part because of the victim's actual or perceived disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, or association with someone who has those traits, is a hate crime (Penal Code 422.55). Police and the district attorney handle criminal cases.

What should I do right after?

1. Get safe. Call 911 if you are in danger or hurt.
2. Get medical care if you are hurt, even if it seems minor. Ask for a copy of the record.
3. Write it down within a day: date, time, place, exact words, what the person looked like, cars and plates, and who saw it. Use the incident record.
4. Take photos of injuries, damage and graffiti before it is cleaned. Screenshot online threats with the date and the account name showing.
5. Keep everything: voicemails, texts, letters, receipts for repairs.
6. Tell someone you trust. Fear and shock are normal. You can also call a support line, listed below.

How do I report it?

You can use more than one path:

• Police. Call 911 in an emergency. Otherwise call your local police or sheriff's non emergency line and ask that the report note the bias. A report can matter later for a restraining order, victim compensation and some immigration options.
• California Civil Rights Department. File a civil complaint online, by phone at 800-884-1684, by email to contact.center@calcivilrights.ca.gov, or by mail to 651 Bannon Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95811 (CRD). CRD also offers community based mediation and free dispute resolution (complaint process).
• Federal. The U.S. Department of Justice says hate crimes are reported to the FBI (DOJ Civil Rights Division).

Deadline for CRD. A Ralph Act complaint must be filed with CRD within one year of the act. If you did not know who did it, you may get up to one more year from when you learn who it was, but never more than three years total. A person who was under 18 may have up to one year after turning adult age (Gov. Code 12960). Court deadlines can be different. Ask a lawyer.

How do I get a court order to keep the person away?

If the person is a neighbor, coworker, landlord, stranger or anyone who is not your partner or close family, ask for a civil harassment restraining order (California Courts). It covers harassment, threats, stalking and harm in person or online.

• A judge usually decides on a temporary order the same day or the next business day after you file.
• A final order can last up to 5 years.
• There is no filing fee if the person used or threatened violence against you, or stalked you (Code of Civil Procedure 527.6(y)). Your court's self help center can help with the forms.

If the person is a partner, ex or family member, use a domestic violence restraining order instead. See How to get a domestic violence restraining order.

What if it happens at work?

You have the right to be free from hate violence and threats at work, too. Threats or attacks because of who you are can break the Ralph Act, and harassment because of a protected trait can also break California's employment law (CRD Employment).

• Report it to your employer in writing and keep a copy.
• Save messages and names of witnesses.
• File with CRD. Employment complaints have a 3 year deadline, but a Ralph Act claim has 1 year, so file early.
• Read What counts as illegal discrimination or harassment at work and, for LGBTQ+ workers, Your rights at work as an LGBTQ+ worker.

Is it safe to report if I do not have papers?

Your rights under these laws do not depend on your immigration status. Immigration status is one of the traits California protects from hate violence (CRD).

What to know before you report:

• California's Values Act limits how state and local police help federal immigration agents. It does not bind federal agents themselves.
• A report can open doors. Victims of some serious crimes who help police may qualify for a U visa. See What is a U visa and could I qualify?
• Talk first if you are worried. A free immigration legal service can help you weigh the risks before you call police. See Free legal help in the Bay Area.

If you are in danger, call 911 first. Safety comes first.

Can I get help paying for what this cost me?

Yes, possibly. The California Victim Compensation Board can help pay for medical care, counseling, lost income and more for victims of violent crimes, including hate crimes. U.S. citizenship is not required. See Help from California Victim Compensation, even without papers. Free counseling is also listed on Where survivors of violence can find counseling.

Who can help?

• Emergency: 911.
• California Civil Rights Department: 800-884-1684, Relay 711 (CRD).
• 211 (where available): local referrals. 211 does not cover every California county; in the Bay Area see 211.
• San Mateo County Victim Services Division (District Attorney): help after a crime, including court information and victim compensation applications, (650) 599-7479 (county page). For San Mateo County.
• Legal Aid at Work, Workers' Rights Clinic: free help for workplace hate violence and harassment, income limits or age 60 and up. East Palo Alto line (415) 404-9093 (clinic page).
• If this is weighing on you: Coping with racism and anti immigrant hate. Call or text 988 any time.

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

Frequently asked questions

The police said it was not a crime. Can I still do something? Yes. Some acts break civil law even when they are not charged as crimes. You can still file with CRD or ask for a restraining order.

The threat was online. Does it count? Yes. Written threats count, and the restraining order covers harassment online. Screenshot it before it is deleted.

I do not know who did it. Report it anyway. If you later learn who did it, the CRD deadline can be extended (but never beyond three years).

Can my child's school do something? Yes. Every California school district must have a process to take and investigate discrimination and harassment complaints, and staff must step in when it is safe to do so (Ed Code 234.1).

Will CRD take the person to criminal court? No. CRD handles civil rights cases. Criminal charges come from police and the district attorney.

We checked these rules on October 21, 2026. Laws change; check the linked pages before you act.