Preliminary data for 2023 shows that bias incidents increased 22% in New Jersey from 2022, according to a report released Thursday by the state attorney general’s office. There were 2,699 incidents reported in 2023 compared to 2,211 in 2022, which was already the seventh consecutive year that bias incidents increased, according to the AG’s office.

Early analysis of 2023 data also shows that anti-Black and anti-Jewish bias were the most common race-related and religious-related motivations for incidents.

Part of the rise is attributed to the attorney general’s increased outreach to communities, since bias incidents are often underreported. The attorney general also cited social media and political divineness as other driving forces. The Department of Law and Public Safety received over $1 million in funding to help enhance the reporting of bias incidents and crimes.