Hate Crimes 1

Hate Crimes by Bias

Hate Crimes Based off Bias and Minority Group Status

Exercise #3 Problem Definition Tables

Courtnay E. Williams

SOWK 300

Ms. McArthur

September 22, 2010

 Hate Crimes 2

Abstract:

Hate crimes have been a large part of American history for quite some time but the actual term

“hate crime” didn’t come about until the 1980’s. As a result of the wave of bias based crimes

taking over the nation and statistics from the Department of Justice on the subject matter, the

term was formed. But as some may think, the problem does not only affect just one race, or just

race in general. The problem spans from race to nationality to sexual orientation and even

disability.
 Hate Crimes 3

Magnitude of the Problem

As shown above hate crimes are still ever present in today’s society. The graph above

shows that out of the participating agencies reporting crimes, hate crimes still have a large part.

Given information regarding those states who participated in surveys the problem of hate crimes

is everywhere. As always you will have higher amounts of crime in some areas as you will in

others.

Here we show that incidents of Hate crimes are still ever present despite all other types of

crime. As you can see in comparison to all other types of crime this is a fairly large piece. This

chart shows cases on a national scale and shows the reader a general idea of amount of cases.

However there must always be the consideration in our heads as to information that may apply

but goes unreported.

 Hate Crimes 4

Scope of the Problem

The chart above shows offenders on a national scale to so the effects of hate crimes

nationally. It gives the reader and opportunity to see those participating in these types of

activities and draw their own conclusions. As you can see the group of Unknown Offenders has

an extremely large piece in relation to other pieces and is only second to white.

This information on race was not shocking to me in the fact that the leading race was

white. This information being on a nation scale is then not a factor of location. It is simply raw

facts on the race as a whole. Conclusions can then be draw as to whether the rest of the races are

simply results of that hatred felt from that one particular group.
 Hate Crimes 5

Changes

Using chart 312, four years were compared: 2000, 2005, 2006, and 2007. In 2000 there

10,117 cases reported, in 2005 there were 8,804 reported, in 2006 there were 9,652 cases

reported, and lastly in 2007 there were 9,535 cases reported. This data although in order of

course skips a brief period in time, but we can still use it for purposes of analysis.

Although we do see a decrease from 2000 to 2005 after that the numbers rise and fall.

This gives us some hope that change is on the horizon and little by little is coming about. In

order to see really change however there must be a change in mentality. That goal cannot be

simple achieved over night.

 Hate Crimes 6

Disparity

As previously stated in percentages, there are differences in the problem based off race,

sex, sexual orientation and disability. Age and SES are not referred to in our research so we will

not make assumptions about them. Race is the leading bias that is listed, meaning that most hate

crimes are of racial hatred. Racially based hate crimes account for more than half of hate crimes.

The rest of the categories lag behind with smaller percentage in the teens. Religion is

next, then sexual orientation, third ethnicity/nationality, and lastly disability. The chart above

makes it clear the vast difference between race-related hate crimes and all other types. It shows

here that race is still the major factor for hate based crimes.
 Hate Crimes 7

Summary and Conclusion

The facts are clear. Hate crimes are prevalent in our society and have been for years.

Change is constant, but what can be done to evoke that change is then the question. I believe that

the key to solving this problem is understanding. If people would take the time to get to know

one another for who they are not simply based on the color of their skin, their physical

appearance, their sexual orientation, handicaps, or any other shallow characteristics we may be

able to come to an understanding.

Acceptance is also key in solving this problem. We must accept people for who they are

and not what they are not able to become. The things discriminated against in many hate crimes

are not changeable features. Why hold something against a person or group that they cannot

change. For those features that are chosen such as religion, we must think about the ideals that

our nation was formed on. Our forefathers came to North America to escape prosecution,

especially religiously. We should condemn those who stand on the very morals our country was

founded on.
 Hate Crimes 8

References

Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Justice. November 2009. “Known Offender’s
Race by Offense Type, 2008.” Retrieved September 20, 2010.
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2008/data/table_03.html

Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Justice. November 2009. “Offense Type by
Participating State, 2008.” Retrieved September 20, 2010.
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2008/data/table_11.html

U.S. Census Bureau. 2007. “Table 312 Hate Crimes—Number of Incidents, Offenses, Victims, and
Known Offenders by Bias Motivation: 2000 to 2007.” Retrieved September 19, 2010.
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s0312.pdf

U.S. Census Bureau. 2007. “Table 313. Hate Crimes Reported by State: 2007.” Retrieved September
19, 2010. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s0313.pdf