New Jersey's anti-bias and hate crime efforts will zero in on youth this year. That's because, said Hester Agodosi, a Supervising Deputy Attorney General with in-depth knowledge of the problems, that's where bias begins.

Consistently, she said, young people between the ages of 11 and 17 are responsible for almost half of the bias crimes reported in the state.

The state's major initiative is on the theme "Youth + Education + Diversity = New Jersey's Future" and will focus on finding the best practices for reaching youngsters and share them with others. A leadership conference for young people who are working on these issues is planned for November.

She called upon the Morris Commission to be proactive and to seek out, encourage and support youth who are working in their schools and in their communities towards understanding among all people.

Agodosi, who has worked in the Office of Bias Crimes, said that New Jersey often ranks second or third in the nation in the number of bias crimes. But she warned that this is not necessarily an accurate barometer. New Jersey had a mandatory system of reporting, she noted; many other states do not, making comparisons impossible.