Essay On Hate Crime

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Crime Data Comparison Paper A hate crime is the victimization of a person based upon certain characteristics such as religion, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. Bias motivated acts of violence are categorized as hate crimes. These crimes include but are not limited to assault, harassment, rape, vandalism, and even murder. Hate crimes can be far more serious than other comparable crimes that do not involve bias because these crimes are intended to intimidate an entire group. Acts of violence are commonplace in the U.S. and something that many people have to deal with on a daily basis. New York City is the most populated city in the United States but has the lowest crime rate of the top 25 states since 2005. The…show more content…
In 1987, the Golden State enacted penal code 422.6 PC which outlined what the state considered a hate crime as well as increased the severity of sentences handed out to those convicted of a hate crime. California also invests a large amount of resources into combating hate based crimes. In October 2009 President Barack Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This Act of Congress, that is commonly referred to as the Matthew Shepard Act, expands the United States federal hate crime law of 1969 to include crimes that are motivated by the victim’s perceived or actual disability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity. The Matthew Shepard Act is the first federal law that extends legal protection to individuals who are transgender. Budget cuts and lay-offs hinder law enforcement’s ability to investigate reports of hate crimes. Community based advocate groups also feel budgetary constraints which greatly reduces their ability to ally with law enforcement to combat hate based offenses. New York City and San Francisco may have seen a decline in reported hate based crimes but it is likely that this is the result of lack of resources and victims and witnesses unwillingness to speak out. Regardless of the reason, crimes that are motivated by hate are far more damaging to the victims and the community than comparable crimes that are not hate
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