Domestic Violence and Hate Crimes: Acknowledging Two Levels of Responsibility

• NCJ Number: 194909
• Journal: Criminal Justice Ethics Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: Summer/Fall 2001 Pages: 31-43
• Author(s): Tracy Isaacs
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article argues that hate crimes and domestic violence both stem from attitudes arising from misconceptions that are harmful to members of both groups and counseling should be a part of a just response to those who are convicted of them.

Abstract

When someone is targeted because she or he is a member of a group which the perpetrator feels hatred towards, this is identified as a hate crime. Much domestic violence also has its source in negative attitudes, in this case attitudes about the subordinate place of women relative to men in society and the appropriateness of using violence to keep them there. The view is not endorsed that hate crimes and their relatives, such as crimes of domestic violence, are worse than similar crimes otherwise motivated. In addition to the usual punishments for these crimes, there is reason to insist on counseling as a part of a just response to those who are convicted of them. The aim of such counseling would be the revision of these negative attitudes. Incorporating counseling acknowledges two levels of moral responsibility: moral responsibility at the level of the individual perpetrator and moral responsibility at the level of the community. Domestic violence is a matter of public concern because the attitudes that lies behind it--attitudes that support the subordination of women--are widespread. Counseling goes one step further than a jail term because it puts individual men in a position to see themselves as responsible agents who make choices. Community responsibility goes beyond a duty to deal with the perpetrators. A moral context can be considered abnormal when a minority of people recognize an issue as morally charged that is not seen as moral at all by the general population. Domestic violence should be understood as part of a larger pattern of social practice. Public education campaigns would also help to meet the moral goals of increasing awareness of community responsibility and of reducing the incidence of these crimes. 41 notes