NCJ Number
140320
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1992) Pages: 115-124
Date Published
1992
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Hate crimes, those motivated by prejudice, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation, have increased globally in recent years; in the U.S., traditional racist groups have been joined in their efforts by other extremist organizations known for their use of violent tactics and intimidation.
Abstract
Organizations that monitor hate crimes and extremist groups, including the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai Brith (ADL), the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Center for Democratic Renewal, estimate that 20,000 Americans belong to organized racist groups. Some of the most prominent and active include the Ku Klux Klan, various neo-Nazi groups, groups comprising the Christian Identity Movement, Posse groups including Posse Comitatus, skinheads, and other extremist groups including the Aryan Brotherhood, White Aryan Resistance, and the Liberty Lobby. More than 40 States and cities have enacted statutes outlawing hate crimes and harassment; most of these laws have used a model code developed by the ADL, which calls for enhanced penalties for criminal behaviors that are motivated by prejudice. On the Federal level, the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and other agencies have successfully prosecuted white supremacist groups, neo-Nazis, and other hate organizations. Locally, several police departments have created specialized units to deal with hate crimes and the International Chiefs of Police issued guidelines for the development of relevant written policies in 1987. 4 notes and 17 references