A hate crime generally can be considered an offense committed against another person, with the specific intent to cause harm to that person due to their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or culture, etc. The amount of hate crimes being committed has been on the rise in these past few years. Hate crimes are one of the most immoral and disgusting acts of violence.
There was a study done in 1999 that showed almost 67 of reported incidents were the act against an individual. These crimes usually included intimidation, (35%) simple assault, (19%) and aggravated assault. (12)% In addition, 50 percent of hate crimes were committed based on race, 18 percent on religion, 17 percent on sexual orientation, 11 percent on ethic origin, and less than 1 half percent on disability and other multiple reasons. (Prevention Pathways 1999)
The most common types of hate incidents are usually racial slurs, and graffiti, which are more than twice likely to occur than physical violence or destruction of property. African American and Hispanic students were shown to be the most likely victims. As far as perpetuators of these crimes, most experts believe that they are often affiliated with hate groups or gangs involved in hate groups. Most hate crimes are usually committed by teenagers and adults under the age of 25. These are usually male. In 1998, 69 percent of the offenders were white, and 16 percent were black. (Prevention Pathways)
According to the Intelligence Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, 602 hate groups were active in the United States in 2000. Some of these hate groups include Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Nazi, Skinhead, Black Separatist and more. Many study’s say that the typical individual who commits a hate crimes is usually a white male involved in some sort of hate group who is abusing drugs. They also say that many males who may have been molested as a child are more likely to commit hate crimes than others. As we see in other parts of the world such as Israel, many hate crimes are being committed by people in major religious groups for religious reasons.
The ongoing trend of hate crime continues to be a challenge. I believe that this type of behavior starts way before the people become adults. I feel that your surroundings have a lot to do with your views on things. I think that people should be educated on these types of things at a young age. If most of the hate crimes committed are racially motivated, this goes back to an issue that us as a country and as a planet have had for centuries.
These anti-race groups are just perpetuating the problem. I don’t think there will be too much change in the acts of these types of crimes being committed unless the individual wants to be make a change and began to accept everyone regardless of race, creed, religion ect. There are also many underlying reasons people commit senseless acts of violence. They too need to seek help for their problems so that all of that inner turmoil won’t be outwardly directed.
References:
Prevention Pathways (Hate Crimes)
http://preventionpathways.samhsa.gov/res_fact_hate.htm (1999)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (Hate Crime Statistics) 2004
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2004/section1.htm
Hate Crimes Defined (2005)
www.hss.state.ak.us/djj/jomis/glossary.htm
