NCJ Number
234375
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2006 Pages: 890-909
Date Published
July 2006
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study examined an individual's attitude towards hate crimes.
Abstract
Hate crimes are motivated by perpetrators' prejudice toward targets' group. To examine individuals' attitudes toward hate crime perpetrators and targets, participants responded to vignettes of court cases in which the victim's group membership was varied. Results showed that participants recommended more severe sentences for perpetrators when the targets of their crimes were not White males or White females and reported those crimes as more closely fitting the definition of "hate crime." These results show that participants consider penalty enhancements appropriate for hate crimes and that they do not consider crimes against women to be hate crimes, consistent with present hate crime legislation. These results have implications for the utility and support of hate crime legislation but may showcase the resistance to expanding the legislation to protect individuals of other groups, especially women. (Published Abstract)