Hate Homicides Higgins O’Brien Spring 2012

FBI Definition: “Criminal offenses committed against persons, property, or society that are motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual-orientation, or ethnicity/national origin.” 28 states also include gender in the definition The term Hate Crime was first coined in the 1980's

Characteristics of Hate Homicide According to the FBI, there were 7,784 bias offenses in 2009 But not every law enforcement agency reports to the FBI, and it is often difficult to find evidence of bias The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) estimates there may be as many 50,000 hates crimes a year Gay or transgendered individuals had some of the highest risk for murder After the 9/11 attacks, violence against Muslims or those perceived to be Muslims increased

Characteristics of Hate Homicide continued Offenders who do commit a hate homicide are frequently members of an organized hate group A group can reinforce beliefs already present in the individual If actions are taken, the individual feels less personal responsibility White Supremacist Groups tend to be apocalyptic; a giant race war is inevitable However, there are many individuals with ethnocentric or bigoted views that would never act upon these thoughts with violence

Types of Hate Homicide Thrill- typically groups of young alienated people, looking to show power over another individual Brutal and sadistic leader, and the others follow Estimated about half of all hate attacks fall under this category Most take the form of vandalism, desecration, and assault, but homicides do occur Many victims are intellectually or emotionally challenged

Types of Hate Homicide Continued Defense- Offenders are protecting turf, neighborhood, women, job, reputation, or school Aimed at particular individuals deemed outsiders May begin with harmless acts, but if provoked can quickly escalate to violence Retaliatory- Targets not just one victim, but anyone in their group Revenge for a previous event, which can cause long lasting damage for both groups involved

Types of Hate Homicide Continued Mission- Seek to destroy every member in a possible group, often in the form of a killing spree Rarest and most dangerous category Offenders are typically members of an organized hate group and/or have severe mental illness Crimes are planned in advance, aiming to generate the most destruction and publicity

Organized Hate Groups Groups have moved away from the uniforms and rituals associated with the Ku Klux Klan Now focus on “American Patriotism” and the heritage of white christians Believe society is eroding because of Jews, blacks, and Latinos The SPLC estimates that there are between 20,000 and 50,000 members of white supremacist groups

Organized Hate Groups Continued Poor management, and a lack of leadership in these groups has led to sharp decreases in membership Many leaders are arrested, go broke, or die from old age, leaving groups with no direction

The Role of the Military Some groups adopt military attire and practices for their own usage Extremist groups tend to have some members with military experience They tend to be high ranking and are respected, given their knowledge of firearms and explosives Enlistment rates have declined in recent years, so the military has loosened it's recruiting standards This has made it easier for individuals with issues to sign up

Current State of Hate Crime Laws 49 States (Wyoming absent) have some form of a hate crime statute In 2009 President Obama signed the Hate Crime Prevention Act, which expanded federal law to include race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and disability Critics of hate crime laws believe it is a violation of free speech, the First Amendment It's unclear if these laws will deter future crimes, but it sends a symbolic message to vulnerable groups