Hate Crimes
Hate crimes, because of their focus, are easier to identify, describe and define than traditional crimes. Traditional crime can entail anything that is not specifically hate related. Hate crimes focus on very specific groups of people. According to Herek (1997) for example, hate crimes are leveled against persons from a specific "race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, or other minority group status". Hate crimes are thus fuelled by hatred for a specific kind of person, and usually entails violence against the person him- or herself. Traditional crime on the other hand has a myriad of motives. It could be crime motivated by lust or greed. The crime need not have specific victim, and "victimless crimes" exist that is to the detriment of society as a whole or the economy, but not to a specific person. Hate crimes have enjoyed research attention since the 1980s, but have probably begun their prevalence much earlier in history. The criminal justice system has however begun to take the phenomenon seriously during this period. Several steps have then been taken to encourage researchers in their efforts focused on these crimes, and to discourage hate crime in the public. President Bill Clinton for example brought about
Indeed, according to Siasoco, legislation regarding this issue, as well as public opinion, has been particularly controversial. Some for example argue that crimes falling under the hate crime category are already punishable under the existing law, without having to add the element of hate crime. It therefore appears that there is a substantial overlap in hate crime and traditional crime. Incitement, vandalism, assault, and murder for example are not always inspired by hate against a certain group, and are already punishable under the law. The legal aspects of hate crime therefore become particularly complicated when such issues are taken into consideration. Nonetheless, there is a clear distinction, and this should be taken into account when creating legislation. Last week's rampage on a Jewish community center in Los Angeles reminds us that crimes once driven solely by hatred for one's race now stem from opposition to one's religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation. Traditional crime may include any crimes that are not motivated by hatred for a specific group of people. As opposed to hate crimes then, traditional crime includes a very broad category of criminal activity, including murder, assault, theft and the like. It is clear that much research is still needed in order to understand, prevent and punish hate crimes. It is difficult to understand the psychology behind a person committing a hate crime. According to Siasoco hate crime perpetrators normally act in small groups or alone. Large hate group conspiracies and other notions like it are more lik
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Approximate Word count = 1072
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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