Tell me what you think it should be defined as for prosecution purposes. Just as an example, in the case of a murder or serious assault.
No agenda here, just looking for a diverse set of opinions. And anyone who's been on here a while knows you're a diverse bunch.. :)
2007-08-03 12:31:12 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I've actually been asked to make a presentation on the prosecution (or not following the existing guidelines for prosecution) of hate crimes, so you're all being really helpful! :) Thank you.
2007-08-03 13:15:04 · update #1
A hate crime is when two identical criminal acts, somehow merit different punishments, with punishment based solely on if the crime was against a member of various groups that are deemed legally more valuable or worthy of greater protection, so harm to one of the favored brings greater penalties.
2007-08-03 13:39:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are laws on the books defining hate crime enhancements. It's not exactly a matter for on-line consensus.
Unless you're talking, hypothetically, what /should/ hate-crime laws be like. In which case, I could answer: they shouldn't exist. At best, hate crime legislation rests on the idea that two wrongs make a right. At worst, it can be used to abridge freedom of speach, and persecute people based on thier ancestry, relgion, and the like - the exact opposite of thier purpose.
2007-08-03 19:37:21 · answer #2 · answered by B.Kevorkian 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is a crime (such as murder or assault or harassment) committed with the intent (mental state) and motivation to harm an entire large group of people based on bigotry and prejudice against that entire group.
It occurs when an individual is targeted for the underlying crime based solely on their membership in the target group, because the criminal intends the attack on the entire group -- rather than because the criminal wished to target that victim as an individual.
2007-08-03 19:51:11 · answer #3 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A bunch of good legal minds have already weighed in on this... so all I will add is that I am not sure that many crimes are committed against people you "love". Wouldn't that make most if not all crimes, "hate" crimes?
2007-08-03 20:19:24 · answer #4 · answered by Evan R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There isn't really a thing that should be considered a hate crime. You should be punished for the crime instead of locking up the judicial system trying to determine motive.
Serial offenders should never get out of jail and if the crime is violent enough kill them so they won't ever do it again.
2007-08-03 19:37:51 · answer #5 · answered by WCSteel 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A hate crime I feel is determined by the motivation behind the crime not the actual event.
2007-08-03 19:36:37 · answer #6 · answered by Looking ahead 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I hate all crime and yet I fail to see how the emotions of the defendent should come into play in regards to the punishment.
2007-08-03 19:48:14 · answer #7 · answered by bkc99xx 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any crime is a hate crime....
You steal. You HATE being poor.
You punch someone who picked on you. You HATE being downtrodden.
You shoot someone who broke into your house. You HATE being robbed.
I know that hate crimes were devised for race and creed. However, I can never see myself charging these crimes. Everyone hates something.
I even consider hate a value. I hate to be average. Therefor I strive daily to be the best that I can...
2007-08-03 19:38:26 · answer #8 · answered by wfsgymwear 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Any criminal activity which is proven to be exclusively or majorly motivated by strong negative feelings toward the other person. Pretty nebulous definition, isn't it? So's hate crime, in my view.
2007-08-03 19:35:42 · answer #9 · answered by ensign183 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who is targeted for a crime based on their sex, race, faith, sexuality is the victim of a hate crime.
2007-08-03 19:46:48 · answer #10 · answered by Julia B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋