Essay On Hate Crimes

Many of the crimes that are committed are not simply a robbery of wealth but are committed against someone or a group of individuals that are different from their attacker. They are not robbing them of their wealth but of their peace of mind. These types of acts are deemed as hate crimes. Hate crimes have plagued many minorities and religious groups for many decades and although they are not nationally noted often when they are given exposure it can rip a community apart or shake the community to their core exposing their values and view of humanity. In the following pages the topic of hate crimes are explored and dissected.

Hate Crime

A hate crime is a crime that is committed against a person or a group of people due to prejudice

A profile is an identifiable representation of a person that is used within law enforcement to determine the characteristics of individual(s) that commit unlawful acts. These acts can include robbery, murder, larceny, sex crimes, and hate crimes. With hate crimes there are three categories that the perpetrator can fall into. One who does these acts for the thrill, individuals that view the act as defending their turf and others that believe that they are ridding the world of an evil or inferior species (Jack McDevitt, Summer 2002) . Unlike the motivations of other crimes hate crimes are committed with high levels of antagonism and belligerence. The offender do not usually display signs of mental illness that can be displayed by a murder suspect but can be considered just as violent if not more. In 1999 the FBI reported that 70% of hate crimes are committed by white offenders, 16% were black offenders, 2% were Asian-Pacific Island origin, 4% were multi-racial and 9% were unknown (Who commits hate crimes?, 2003). Their offences involved property destruction, online bullying, arson, burglary, vehicle theft, vandalism, assault, and

Many may contribute the increasing number of teenagers that are imprisoned and tried as adults that encounter bias groups that mold them into their rationale way of thinking that seeps into them by the time that they are released. Another element are when the behavior is taught by family and friends who have bias feelings against a group of people based on their interactions with one person from that particular group of people (What Motivates Hate Offenders?, 2008). The cause of these crimes can vary and but the effects on the victims and society are un-argumentative. The victims can encounter lasting mental and physical injuries due to their attacks that can alter their personalities and the ability to maintain relationships due to their fear of future attacks, and mixed emotions from anger, to anguish, and rage (Ephross, 1994). These crimes also impact the community by creating tension with society with feelings of fear, hysteria and outrage that may lead to public displays of rallies that have the possibility for violence. There is also the potential for looting and riots. Unlike other criminal acts that only impact the family,