Despite a large number of hate crimes, the Department of Justice has found the majority of acts committed between 2005 and 2019 have actually not been prosecuted.

According to a report, which looked at 1,878 different cases, 82% were not prosecuted, citing insufficient evidence as the cause, while only 17% were prosecuted. This comes as hate crimes have risen against Asian-Americans during the pandemic, which prompted the passing of an Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Bill, which President Biden signed into law earlier this year, The Hill reports.

Convictions for hate crimes have risen 83% from 2005-2009 and 94% from 2015-2019, with sentences for those convicted averaging 7.5 years.

According to The Sacramento Bee, anti-Asian hate crimes spiked since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, jumping 107% in California alone. Attorney General Rob Bonda described it as an “epidemic of hate” against the Asian-American community.

Hate crimes against Asian-Americans were heavily underscored by shooting at three spas in the Atlanta suburbs, which killed eight people total. Of the victims, six were of Asian descent.

21-year-old Robert Aaron was later arrested for the shootings.

Asian-American Violence
A protest demanding an end to anti-Asian violence is pictured in New York City on April 4, 2021. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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