Abstract
On all levels hate crimes are aggressive expressions of prejudice against a person or group of people simple because of who they are. Hate crimes have a major impact on society in general. They serve to isolate the groups that are the most common targets of hate crime perpetrators. Furthermore, hate crimes have also led to polarization between groups.
Hate crimes are some of the worse crimes committed because they hurt not only that person but often an entire race of people. In 1999 the FBI gathered data on hate crime offenders. They found that nearly 70% of hate crime offenders were white, 16% were black, 4% were multiracial, and 2% were of Asian-Pacific Island origin. Another 1% was Native American and 9% of the offenders were unknown (FBI: hate, 2011). In terms of other crimes committed, 80% of the reported hate crime offenders in 1999 had also committed other crimes against people; the most frequent of those crimes was intimidation. Another 19% of hate crime offenders were associated with crimes against property such as destruction, damage, or vandalism (FBI: hate, 2011).
Most hate crimes are not committed by criminals. They are by otherwise law abiding young people who for some reason harbor hatred toward members of a particular group. There are said to be 3 profiles for people who commit hate crimes. Some offenders think they are defending their turf if they keep people unlike them away. Some commit these crimes simply because they seek a thrill or excitement. And still others commit the crimes because they have taken it upon themselves to rid the world of groups they consider inferior. According to Jack McDevitt, Jack Levin & Susan Bennett, S. (2002) the attack that is committed for the thrill is the most common hate crime. The offender actually chooses the victim because they believe that the victim is in some way significantly different (p. 314-315).
A person can experience many feelings...