Law Enforcement Response to Bias-motivated Crimes (From Bias Crime: The Law Enforcement Response, P 17-33, 1991, Nancy Taylor, ed. -- See NCJ-136058)

• NCJ Number: 136060
• Author(s): J Garofalo; S E Martin
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 17 pages
• Sale Source: University of Illinois at Chicago
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Making a distinction between bias-related crimes and those not related to bias is useful, and research is under way in New York City and Baltimore County (Maryland) to examine the nature and effects of this type of crime.

Abstract

Giving special attention to bias-motivated crimes is important because these crimes have special effects on victims, the crimes are particularly harmful to communities, and bias is analytically separable from the crime itself. Currently, biases directed against racial, ethnic, and religious groups are most likely to receive official recognition; crimes based on gender or class are generally not included. Police generally receive guidelines regarding the determination that an incident was bias-related. The research is focusing on offenders; victims; police policies and procedures related to these incidents; and the arrest, prosecution, and sentencing outcomes of bias and non-bias crimes. A final draft report should be completed by August 1990.