Hate and Bias Crime (From National Victim Assistance Academy, P 22.1.1 - 22.1.15, 2000, Anne Seymour, Morna Murray, eds. et al., -- See NCJ 184052)

• NCJ Number: 184078
• Author(s): Anne Seymour; Melissa Hook; Carl Grimes
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 15 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; OVC Resource Ctr
• Publication Series: OVC Others
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter examines hate and bias crimes.

Abstract

Hate and bias crimes are motivated by hatred against a victim based upon his or her race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or national origin and pose unique challenges for victim service providers. Hate and bias crime victims require heightened sensitivity from victim services, law enforcement, and criminal justice professionals. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that 8,049 hate crime incidents were brought to the attention of law enforcement agencies nationwide in 1997. Of that total, 4,710 were motivated by racial bias, 1,385 by religious bias, 1,102 by sexual orientation bias, 836 by ethnicity/national origin bias, 12 by disability bias, and 4 by multiple biases. The chapter discusses the definition of hate/bias crime and the government’s policy in addressing such crime; types of hate/bias crime offenders; the impact of hate/bias crimes on victims and the community; hate/bias crime indicators for law enforcement; unique features of hate/bias crimes that differentiate them from other crimes; meeting the needs of hate/bias crime victims; and promising practices and recommendations that improve the response to hate/bias crimes.