Hate Incident Reporting System

Functionality & Mechanism

Developed by researchers at the University of Utah, this system functions as a tool for crowdsourcing sensitive Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI). The interface facilitates the submission of hate incident reports from the general public. The system is designed to capture geographically-integrated data, allowing for the standardized collection of event details. This process channels user-submitted information into a research database, creating a structured dataset for subsequent analysis of hate incident patterns and contexts.

Evidence & Research Context

• The system's development was informed by the need to address documented gaps in official hate crime and incident data.
• Associated research outlines a methodological framework for ethically collecting sensitive VGI, which guides the system's design.
• The design protocol emphasizes key considerations including participant motivation, data security, accessibility, and ethical management of geographic information.
• A central principle of the system's construction is accountability to participants through rigorous data handling and collaboration with community stakeholders.

Intended Use & Scope

This system is intended for use by the general public to document hate incidents and by researchers for data collection and analysis. Its primary utility is as a citizen science tool to advance the academic understanding of hate phenomena. The system does not function as an official law enforcement reporting channel and submissions do not trigger a formal investigation.