The FBI defines a hate crime as a traditional offense like murder, arson, or vandalism with the added element of bias. Hate itself is not a crime, but committing a crime motivated by bias or hate constitutes a hate crime.
The term hate can be misleading. When used in a hate crime law, the word hate does not mean rage, anger, or general dislike. In this context, it means bias against people or groups with specific characteristics that are defined by the law. At the federal level, hate crime laws include crimes committed on the basis of the victim’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. Most state hate crime laws include crimes committed on the basis of race, color, and religion; many also include crimes committed on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability.
Review the Learning Resources for this Assignment.
Consider the similarities and differences between the crimes discussed in the article, “The Decade’s Top 10 Incidents of Hate,” located in the Learning Resources for this Assignment.
Consider the United States legislative definition of a hate crime.
Identify a real-life, recent (within the past 5 years) case in which a hate crime was committed, and the perpetrator(s) was convicted.
Conduct your own research online and to identify three or more credible sources of information/evidence (e.g., court documents, documentaries, journal articles, news reports, etc.) about the case you selected.
Consider the kinds of interview questions you might ask the perpetrator of a crime to help determine if the act was a hate crime or not.
Use the APA Course Paper Template (APA 7) found in this week’s Learning Resources to complete your Assignment.
Assignment (3–4 pages, not including title and references pages)
Address the following in your paper:
In your own words, explain the United States legislative definition of a hate crime.
Identify the real-life, recent (within the past 5 years) case you selected in which a hate crime was committed, and the perpetrator(s) was convicted.
Summarize the key elements of the case and explain how they align with the United States legislative definition of a hate crime.
Describe three interview questions you might ask the perpetrator of a crime to help determine if the act was a hate crime or not.