What are hate crimes?

Question

I think that all violent crimes are hate crimes regardless of race or ethnic background. Hate crime laws are just another paradox in our legal system.

Answer 1

From what I've seen, its any crime a white person is involved in that also includes a minority.

Answer 2

Hate crimes are defined legally as "criminal incidents targeting victims or property as a result of bias against a particular race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin or physical or mental disability."

There are many terms we use in the vernacular that have a more highly technical meaning within the legal system. Insanity, for example. Although there may be some element of "hate" (vernacular) in many violent crimes, it does not rise to the legal definition of the term.

Answer 3

Crimes that occur not randomly or only for economic gain, but are perpetrated on a victim by a criminal who has singled out the victim due to his race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. Actually, aggravating factors that create separate "crimes" are quite usual; see domestic violence statutes, crimes committed with a gun, abuse of positions of trust, etc. Being from the South, my experience is that most I have met who "oppose" hate crime legislation are also quite racist. Coincidence?

Answer 4

not really

they were instituted at the Federal level so that if a state or local jurisdiction fails to prosecute a crime against a certain minority (such as race or religion) then the Feds can claim jurisdiction and then prosecute the bad guys

many states have simliar laws so they can prosecute local cases if they choose also

under bush the justice department prosecution of these crimes has dropped dramatically from previous years

Answer 5

I don't know, but i hate crimes too.

Answer 6

do the "Jena 6" hate white school aged males?

Answer 7

These are mostly racial in nature.