A report on hate-crimes in the 1980s in Los Angeles County (California) found that these acts had increased in number. Hate crimes are defined as criminal acts directed at an individual, institution, or business expressly because of race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. Over the period 1980 to 1989, religiously motivated hate crimes climbed from 26 to 125, with most attacks aimed at Jews. Racially motivated hate crimes numbered four in 1981 and 167 in 1989, with Blacks generally the victims of these acts. Data on sexual orientation hate crimes were collected beginning in 1987 and show 61 incidents in 1988 and 86 incidents in 1989, with most aimed at gay men rather than lesbians. Although the increase in reported hate crimes may be due to the increased prominence of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations (LACCHR) and its work collecting data on the problem, it seems clear that there has been a real increase in hate crimes. Statistical data are presented in 13 tables. Recommendations approved by the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors in the 1980s, a historical overview, a detailed criteria for the definition of hate crime, and a chronology of major hate crime activity 1980-1989 are included. (JB)