NCJ Number
142148
Journal
Stanford Law and Policy Review Volume: 4 Dated: (Winter 1992-1993) Pages: 165-181
Date Published
1992
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Bias crimes are defined by the FBI as those criminal offenses which are motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender's prejudice against a race, religion, ethnic group, or sexual orientation group.
Abstract
Bias crimes are more likely than other non-bias crimes to involve physical assault and they tend to be more severe than other assaults. Gay men seem to be the group most often targeted for violent assault. Jews tend to report bias crimes more often than other victimized groups. Police investigations of bias-related crimes are usually longer and more complicated because two-thirds of victims suffer multiple attacks which are carried out by informal associations of strangers. The unprovoked nature of these attacks and the likelihood of further victimization intensifies the psychological damage inflicted by hate crimes. Hate crimes are direct efforts to interfere with an individual's free exercise of civil rights. There are two general categories of anti-hate crime statutes at the State level: criminal civil rights laws and bias intimidation laws. However, the existence and scope of such laws varies widely between the States. A successful approach to fighting and preventing hate crimes would combine improved data collection; coordination between police, prosecutors, private agencies, and other government officials; and bias crime training for law enforcement officers. 6 figures and 119 notes