Defining Hate Crimes
Hate crimes has become an increasing problem here in the united states ranging from racial hatred to gender discrimination but what are hate crimes? According to Dr. Jack McDevitt, a criminologist at Northeastern University in Boston Hate crimes are message crimes, Hate crimes are defined as crimes that are violent act against people, property, or organizations because of the group to which they belong or identify with. The coined term “hate crimes” was first used No matter how many different definitions there are for hate crimes but we all can agree that hate crimes are wrong and immoral. But within hate crimes they are many different types of hate crimes. One of the main reasons that people commit hate crimes would
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A good example of this would be In 1997 SS lightning bolts and swastikas were among the anti-Semitic graffiti discovered in Hebrew and Yiddish books in the University of Chicago library, and an explosive device was detonated at the door of a Jewish center in New York City. But personal assaults against Jews are not uncommon. That same year, two men with a BB gun entered a Wisconsin synagogue and started shooting during morning prayers. In 1995 in Cincinnati, a gang member revealed that one of the victims of his group\\'s initiation ceremony was chosen just because he was Jewish. And recently because of the September 11 attacks Muslims have been the constant target of hate crimes in America.
Gender Discrimination
Gender discrimination is also a constant problem in America. In this are of hate crimes women are predominantly the target for these crimes. This type of discrimination happens in every aspect of everyday American life. Such places as the workplace for an example
In America Many people perceive people that commit hate crimes as crazed, hate-filled neo-Nazis or \\"skinheads\\". But in all actually these crimes are committed by people like you and me in some senses it could be your next door neighbor or your best friend but research by Dr. Edward Dunbar, a clinical psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, reveals that of 1,459 hate crimes committed in the Los Angeles area in the period 1994 to
Hate crimes can be shown in different ways, people do not feel safe because many people are becoming victims of it. Such as when the incident happened with Lebron James in his home in Los Angeles California. Lebron James home was vandalized with racist graffiti , making his home feel unsafe because of racial hate that is still going on in America. Hate crimes like vandalism and verbal threats are not physically abusive but can still affect someone mentally. Vandalism can feel like threats , because you never know what will happen after seeing something like that. Also in California there is a lot of Hate crimes in that state. There was 931 hate crimes in California in 2016. It had the most Hate crimes than any other state that year. Hate crimes can also be shown in multiple acts such as murder , aggravated assault , intimidation and rape. Sexual assault is a Hate crime in America that happens to many people for the last 2 decades. One incident where a young boy named Jason Mattison jr. who was openly gay but was viciously and
The Klu Klux Klan, one of the most recognised hate groups in US history, was founded in 1865. They were under the impression that people of color were less valuable than white people, some even believing that they weren't human. Something people don’t realize is that groups like that are still around today, and just as active as ever. Hate groups, and just random unorganised hate crimes are just as real as me and you, and they are still an active threat. Hate Crime is relevant, and as a society, we should be doing our best to snuff out the flames of prejudice and resentment that burn in the hearts of anyone willing to participate in such unjust behavior. This kind of activity is not only hurtful emotionally, but sometimes, it turns to violence. Innocent people getting picked off the street simply because of their beliefs, who they love, or the color of their skin. This is something that nobody should stand for, especially now, in this constantly progressing world. All in all, Hate Crimes are a real problem, and in order to stop injustice such as this, we need to work together as human beings to accept people, regardless of who they are.
While hate crime is a fairly new label for a crime, the existence of hate crimes has been present since the early days of the United States. Throughout US history, murders, assaults, and destruction of property has occurred against African Americans, American Indians, Irish immigrants, Asian Americans, Latino’s, gays, the mentally handicapped, and all other groups of minorities. Since the terrorist attacks on 9/11, there has been an increase in racial based attacks against those of Middle Eastern descent, whether they are Muslim or not. Of all of these, African Americans are subjected to the highest number of hate crimes (Martin 1996), with Muslims, homosexuals, and transgendered people on
A hate crime is a crime of prejudice. The commitment of hate crimes is motivated by racial, sexual and even religious differences that often result to violence and death. America today is besieged by hate crimes. It seems that everywhere we turn, in the newspapers, on television and on social media, hate crimes are not only reported but are actually supported. It is unprecedented in American history how much bigotry is thrown out in our faces from the news and in social media. (Patillo, 2017) Behind every hate crime is a message. This is why the mainstream media and social media have become platforms for various groups to brag about their religious and racial biases and what they intend to do about those who against their beliefs. Hate crimes are espoused by religious and racial bigots to sow hate and dissension in order to convince people that their religious and racial prejudices are correct. Politicians, law enforcement units and the local community have to take firm steps to prevent such acts of violence from occurring in their locality.
The hate crime legislations in the United States need to clearly define and identify hate crimes. Title 18 of the United States Code allows prosecutors to prosecute anyone who intentionally injures, intimidate, interferes with someone else, or attempts to do so, by force because of a person’s race, color, religions, or
Hate crimes are many different criminal acts such as vandalism, arson, assault, and even murder. Many hate crimes are based on an individual’s race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and disabilities. Everyone can be potential victims of hate crimes. Anyone from any social class can be considered targets for hate crimes. If you or a group believes in a different religion or speaks a different language and the offenders do not approve, then they will target you. No one can be really safe and overcome hate crimes if they are being targeted. It is a cruel and depressing world. With help as a community can stop hate crimes.
Hate crimes are difficult to fathom, primarily because they involve the unprovoked physical attacking and, sometimes, murder of people based on race and ethnicity. A more formal definition of hate crimes is presented by Shepard (2017, p. 285). As he writes, “a hate crime is a criminal act that is motivated by extreme prejudice,” This is a very good, concise and accurate definition, nevertheless, hate crimes are not the outcome of unimaginable heights of discrimination. Most people have prejudices and many have stereotypes regarding others, whether it be racial or class stereotypes. Nobody is completely lacking in any form, shape or type of prejudice but, the much greater percentage does not physically attack, beat or murder those whom they
There are four types of hate crime offenders according to McDevitt and colleagues: thrill seeking, defensive, retaliatory, and mission. Thrill-seeking hate crime offenders are inspired by excitement and make up most of the cases in the study, representing 66% of the cases (Burgess, Regehr, & Roberts, 2013, p. 494). These offenders are typically subjugated by teenagers, who generally conduct their crimes when they are looking for fun and have spent time together drinking (Burgess, Regehr, & Roberts, 2013, p. 494). Thrill-seeking hate crime offenders tend to attack minority communities and normally use their hands or feet to go through with the attack (Burgess, Regehr, & Roberts, 2013, p. 494). Next, defensive hate crimes represent 25 % of hate crimes committed and are led by individuals who only see the world as being one way, nonetheless wanting to defend their neighborhood from anyone who would be considered an outsider (Burgess, Regehr, & Roberts, 2013, p.
Though as a form of discriminatory behavior, hate crimes often have an attitudinal dimension, the relationship between prejudice and criminal behavior tends to be complex. There is reason to believe that certain hate offenses result from some personal bias or hatred. In the extreme case, a hatemonger may join an organized group in order to devote his life to destroying a group of people he considers "inferior." At times, certain prejudices become narrowly targeted. Because behavioral scientists have
The victims of hate crimes are usually based on minority’s, gays, different race, religion, gender, or disability. Hate crimes can take place in many places, “including schools and houses of worship, commercial and government buildings, restaurants and nightclubs, parking lots and garages, playgrounds and parks, and even medical facilities.”("2016 Hate Crime Statistics"). The perpetrators target the victims because they want to induce fear in the people. Hate crimes can be shown through, protests, graffiti, verbal contact between groups, and/ or
problem in today's society, but it is not dealt with the same violent manner as
There are so many religious groups around the world that have been 56the victims of hate crime. As history has shown us, Hitler’s hate crime against Jews, by killing millions of innocent people to prove his point. So, then What is Hate Crime? The simple definition is, a crime motivated by racial, sexual, or other prejudice, typically one involving violence. Similarly, in the Criminal Code of Canada “Hate Crime” is described as committing harm to not only one person but to the whole ethnic group. Under the section 318 of the Criminal Code, which is called Hate Propaganda states that “everyone who advocates or promotes genocide is guilty of an indictable offense and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.” There is a strict law enforcing the seriousness of this crime. The fact that such law exists should prove enough that there is such thing as a hate crime. Also in section 319 of the Criminal Code under the public incitement of hatred, it states that “Everyone who, by communicating statements in any public place, incites hatred against any identifiable group where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace is guilty of:
The U.S. House of Representatives said that hate crimes are classified by what motivated the defendants behavior. Whether this be by hatred or prejudice based on actual or perceived race, nationality, or ethnicity of another person or group of people. Hate crimes can range from vandalism to homicide. These attacks are not always meant to harm the victim, sometimes they are carried out to instill fear into the targeted person or group of people. Therefore the victims of hate crimes are selected because of the aggressors prejudice against the group that the victim belongs to and not because the victim had provoked the aggressor in some way. In result hate crimes end up spreading fear through not only the victim, but also through people who identify
Hate crimes can be broken down into a few categories based on intent they are, Retaliatory which occurs when a victim or a group of victimized people seek to commit a hate crime in response to the group or individual responsible for causing them to me victimized in the first place. Another more common one is the thrill seeker which is when a hate crime is committed for the fun of it no other motive is needed just because the individual finds it amusing. The last one is Reactive and defensive which are crimes committed in response to defend ones way of
Hate, hate, hate. What exactly is a Hate Crime anyways? It is a crime derived by racial, sexual, religious, or prejudice towards someone. It more than likely can involve bickering that may lead to deadly violence. There is always some type of controversy going on in every country, but are U.S. hate crimes considered the worst? Hate crimes can be anywhere, and start at any time. Since 1999, hate groups have grown tremendously as a social statement in society to many. Anyone can become a victim of a hate dispute. Hate crimes began in the South when the Ku Klux Klan was first initiated, and since then laws have placed higher restrictions on what qualifies as a hate crime, but present day hate crimes seem to be on the rise--how can this be stopped?