Bridging the Gap: Awareness, Trust, and Reporting Anti-Asian Hate Crimes

Anti-Asian hate crimes surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many incidents going unreported. This study investigates how awareness of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act is associated with Asian Americans’ intentions to report future hate crimes to the police and examines whether trust in the police mediates this relationship, using a survey sample of 539 Chinese and Korean Americans. Findings indicate that awareness of the Hate Crimes Act significantly predicts reporting intentions, with trust in the police serving as a key mediator. Striking differences in awareness were observed by gender, education level, and age. These results point to the importance of targeted outreach, multilingual resources, and culturally sensitive policing to address gaps between communities and law enforcement. The study informs efforts to reduce barriers, advance equity, and support social work’s commitment to justice and human rights.