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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 10:48 pm
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Results for hate crime
24 results foundAuthor: Adamson, Sue Title: Hidden from Public View? Racism Against the UK Chinese Population Summary: This report offers insight into the situation of Chinese victims of racism in three different towns and areas of the United Kingdom: London, Manchester, and Southampton. The report reveals that the Chinese community suffers from levels of racism, harassement and racial violence that are perhaps higher than any other minority group due to under-reporting. Details: London: The Monitoring Group, 2009 Source: University of Hull Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 116292 Keywords: Bias CrimeHate CrimeMinority GroupsRace |
Author: Anti-Defamation League Title: Bigots on Bikes: The Growing Links between White Supremacists and Biker Gangs Summary: In recent years, a disturbing trend has emerged on the white supremacist scene in the United States. More and more white supremacists are developing links to motorcycle clubs across the country, including outlaw motorcycle gangs frequently involved with criminal activity. Though there has always been a small amount of crossover between white supremacist subcultures on one hand and the biker subculture on the other, these contacts have heretofore been relatively limited. Now, however, bikers and white supremacists are commingling with increasing frequency in a number of different ways. All five of the major white supremacist movements in the United States—neo-Nazis, racist skinheads, Ku Klux Klan groups, racist prison gangs, and Christian Identity groups—have developed noteworthy ties to the biker subculture. There is a significant overlap between elements of the biker subculture and elements of white supremacist subcultures, including shared symbology, shared slang and language, and in some cases shared dress. These cultural connections make encounters between the different movements easier. As a result of these individual connections, the number of people who hold dual membership in biker clubs and white supremacist groups has grown. Institutional connections have also grown, including biker gangs co-sponsoring white power events and allowing white supremacists to meet at their club houses. The most disturbing development has been the formation in recent years of a number of explicitly white supremacist biker gangs and clubs. If these connections continue to increase, they could add strength to white supremacist movements and could also increase ties between white supremacists and organized crime. Details: New York: Anti-Defamation League, 2011. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 21, 2012 at http://www.adl.org/extremism/ADL_CR_Bigots_on_Bikes_online.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.adl.org/extremism/ADL_CR_Bigots_on_Bikes_online.pdf Shelf Number: 123712 Keywords: GangsHate CrimeOrganized CrimeRacism |
Author: Iganski, Paul Title: Rehabilitation of hate crime offenders Summary: In October 2010 the Equality Act came into force which, among the new general duties it places on public bodies, requires public authorities to take action to “promote understanding” and “tackle prejudice”. The duty on a public body to reduce prejudice can be seen to include working with those people in the community whose prejudice has an impact both on them and the people around them and therefore applies to the area of criminal justice and ‘hate crime’ offenders. However, despite the growing attention and interest in hate crime, there is a clear need for a shared learning about how to effectively manage offenders. This report aims to provide a contribution to that learning by presenting a research review of some of the initiatives that have been established. The aims of the research were to: identify, from an international search, programmes designed for the rehabilitation of hate crime offenders; determine the transferability of programmes, or elements of them, for practice learning in the UK; make recommendations for the design and delivery of rehabilitative programmes for hate crime offenders in the UK. The research drew on international knowledge and expertise to look for relevant programmes in North America, Australia and New Zealand, and Europe, as well as in the UK, and, when programmes were identified, sought more information wherever possible by visits and telephone contacts with those responsible for the programmes. No programmes were found in Australia, New Zealand or Canada. The programmes identified in the United States, most of which were aimed at young offenders, had mostly ceased to function, usually because of problems of funding. Programmes were, however, identified in Germany and Sweden, which – unlike programmes identified in the United Kingdom – are intended specifically for offenders who have or have had some contact with far-right racist groups. The UK programmes identified share with those in Europe a commitment to the acceptance and understanding, rather than the rejection and condemnation, of racially motivated offenders, and have shown that it is possible to work with them constructively while firmly conveying that racist attitudes and behaviour are not acceptable. On the basis of the research findings, and in the context of the 2010 Equality Act, a number of recommendations are made for the design and delivery of programmes for the rehabilitation of hate crime offenders in the UK. Details: Scotland: Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2011. 56p. Source: Research Report. Internet Resource: Accessed on January 26, 2012 at http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/Scotland/Research/rehabilitation_of_hate_crime_offenders_report_word_for_web_2_.doc Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/Scotland/Research/rehabilitation_of_hate_crime_offenders_report_word_for_web_2_.doc Shelf Number: 123773 Keywords: Bias CrimeHate CrimeHomophobiaOffender ManagementRacismRehabilitation |
Author: Walby, Sylvia Title: Physical and Legal Security and the Criminal Justice System: A Review of Inequalities Summary: The focus of this report is physical and legal security in relation to the Criminal Justice System. The main areas of physical security include: homicide; other violence against the person, including domestic or intimate partner violence, sexual violence and hate crime; and physical security in institutional settings. The main areas of legal security include the extent to which offences are brought to justice and equal treatment in and by the Criminal Justice System. Emphasis is placed on evidence and the analysis of objective outcomes as opposed to subjective attitudes and perceptions, primarily because of the robustness of the former in comparison to the latter, but also because the selection of outcomes corresponds to the prioritization recommended by the Equalities Review (2007). The report addresses all the protected equality strands, as well as other disproportionately affected groups wherever there is available and relevant evidence. Due to the current unevenness in data collection and availability across the strands, the majority of evidence presented relates to gender, disability and race/ethnicity. Data on other equalities groups is drawn upon where available (often from small scale studies rather than surveys). The report addresses data and research primarily at the level of Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland), reflecting the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s geographical remit. The report reviews the evidence of the extent to which there are inequalities in physical and legal security. The sources used include large surveys (e.g. the British Crime Survey) and administrative data (e.g. police recorded crime), as well as evidence from smaller scale research projects, including those carried out by academia, civil society organisations and governmental commissions and agencies. Details: United Kingdom: Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2010. 172p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 26, 2012 at http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/triennial_review/triennial_review_cjs_review.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/triennial_review/triennial_review_cjs_review.pdf Shelf Number: 123774 Keywords: Bias CrimeConviction RatesDisproportionate Minority ContactDomestic ViolenceHate CrimeHomicideRace/EthnicityViolence Against Women |
Author: Botcherby, Sue Title: Equality groups' perceptions and experience of crime: Analysis of the British Crime Survey 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 Summary: The Equality Act 2010 introduces a new equality duty requiring public authorities to show due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation; advance equality and foster good relations across all the protected characteristics. The Act defines harassment as ‘unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic’ which violates a person’s dignity or creates ‘an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment’. This briefing uses British Crime Survey (BCS) data to understand the different equality groups’ expectations about being insulted and their experience of intimidation, threats, violence and crime. It also analyses the experience and reporting of hate crime, that is, crime motivated by the offender’s attitudes to the victim’s age, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or disability compared to other crime not motivated by prejudice. The briefing finds that there is widespread expectation of being insulted or intimidated in public places amongst most minority equality groups. Younger age groups, men, and lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) respondents are more likely to report being a victim of crime, and experiencing threats or deliberate use of violence than older age groups, women and heterosexual respondents. Ethnic minority groups are more likely than White groups to report being a victim of crime, but the Mixed and White groups are most likely to experience violence. People over sixty, ethnic minority groups and LGB respondents are most likely to report experiencing crime motivated by the offender’s attitude to their identity. Victims of hate crime are more likely to inform police of such incidents than victims of otherwise motivated crimes. Details: Manchester, United Kingdom: Equality and Human Rights Commission, University of Lancaster, 2011. 26p. Source: Research Briefing Paper 4: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 27, 2012 at http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/research/bp4.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/research/bp4.pdf Shelf Number: 123844 Keywords: Bias CrimeBritish Crime SurveyHate CrimeMinority GroupsPublic Opinion (U.K.) |
Author: ILGA-Europe Title: Research on the legal ground and the political arguments for inclusive EU legislation against bias violence and hatred Summary: The following analysis examines the question of whether the European Union (‘EU’) has competence to adopt legislation on crimes motivated by hatred (‘hate crimes’) against the specifi ed groups listed in Article 19 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’), which is the legal base for adopting legislation to combat discrimination on grounds of race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age and religion. To place this issue in context, the analysis first of all examines the overall legal framework for criminal law in the European Union (section 1), and then also examines the legal framework relating to human rights protection in the EU (section 2), in particular examining the rights to equality and non-discrimination. After an assessment of the issue of competence (section 3), the analysis then examines the prospects for adoption of EU legislation with a limited number of Member States (section 4), and then examines the possibility of adopting legislation outside of the EU legal framework entirely, in particular within the Council of Europe legal framework (section 5). The Annex to this report sets out a simplified flow-chart of the EU’s decision-making procedures, both to adopt legislation and to authorise ‘enhanced cooperation’ (ie adoption of the legislation among only a limited number of Member States). It is assumed throughout this analysis that legislation on homophobic hate crimes could or should also be drawn up in conjunction with criminal law legislation related to other forms of discrimination not yet addressed by EU law (as regards criminal law), for example as regards off ences deriving from sexism or religious bigotry. Addressing all of these forms of discrimination together would avoid perpetuating the ‘hierarchy of discrimination’ which exists in EU law (in that some of the groups listed in Article 19 TFEU enjoy more protection than others as regards EU law). However, the analysis does not address the possibility of the EU adopting measures to address hate crimes which are committed on grounds which are not listed in Article 19 TFEU. Details: Brussels, Belgium: ILGA-Europe, 2011. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 10, 2012 at http://www.msmgf.org/files/msmgf//Advocacy/ResearchonlegalgroundsforEUhatelegislationoct11jnt.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Europe URL: http://www.msmgf.org/files/msmgf//Advocacy/ResearchonlegalgroundsforEUhatelegislationoct11jnt.pdf Shelf Number: 124069 Keywords: Bias CrimeHate CrimeLegislation (Europe)Violent Crime |
Author: Stotzer, Rebecca Title: Comparison of Hate Crime Rates Across Protected and Unprotected Groups Summary: Sexual orientation and gender identity are not currently covered by federal hate crime laws. This analysis compares victimization rates for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals with groups already covered by hate crime laws. Results indicate that the hate crime rate against lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals is comparable to the rate of hate crimes against already protected groups. While the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs reports an average of 213 hate crimes per year, the federal government has no system in place for documenting or collecting these statistics. This discrepancy indicates a need for including gender identity in hate crime tracking laws, and extending legislative protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Details: The Williams Institute, 2007. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 15, 2012 at http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Stotzer-Comparison-Hate-Crime-June-2007.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Stotzer-Comparison-Hate-Crime-June-2007.pdf Shelf Number: 124970 Keywords: Bias-Motivated CrimesCrime RatesCrime StatisticsDiscriminationHate CrimeLegislation |
Author: Stahnke, Tad Title: 2008 Hate Crime Survey Summary: Human Rights First’s 2008 Hate Crime Survey—our second annual study—is a review of the rising tide of hate crime covering the region from the Far East of the Russian Federation and the Central Asian states across Europe to North America: the 56 participating states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Human Rights First continues to document and analyze the reality of violent hate crime. We have reviewed available reports on violence motivated by prejudice and hatred, including the findings of the few official monitoring systems that provide meaningful statistical information. This data—combined with the findings of nongovernmental monitoring organizations as well as media reporting—provides important insights into the nature and incidence of violent hate crimes. Our aim is to raise the profile of these insidious crimes and the challenges they pose to societies that are becoming increasingly diverse. Hate crimes are everyday occurrences that result in broken windows and burnt out homes, mental distress and bodily harm—sometimes fatal. Hate crimes threaten whole communities who identify with the victim based on race, religion, or other attributes, leaving many to live in fear and alienated from the larger society. This report seeks to overcome official indifference and indecision in the fight against such crime. In the first part of this report, we examine six facets of hate crime in sections on Violence Based on Racism and Xenophobia, Antisemitic Violence, Violence Against Muslims, Violence Based on Religious Intolerance, Violence Against Roma, and Violence Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Bias. In the second part, we assess government responses to violent hate crimes in sections on Systems of Monitoring and Reporting and The Framework of Criminal Law. Although not included in this compilation, the 2008 Hate Crime Survey also includes separate sections on the Russian Federation and Ukraine, where hate crime has been on the rise and where governments have not responded adequately. No state is immune from the prejudice and bigotry that stand behind bias-motivated violence. A Country Panorama section profiles hate crime cases from 30 countries and includes in-depth descriptions of hate crime in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—three countries where considerable efforts have been undertaken to combat hate crimes. Similarly, there has generally been a vigorous government response to hate crime in the United States, even though the problem continues. In a separate substantive section on the U.S., we outline recommendations to enhance the government’s response. These sections are available at the Fighting Discrimination website: www.humanrightsfirst.org/discrimination. Human Rights First is concerned that governments are not doing enough to combat violent hate crimes. In this survey, we offer a Ten-Point Plan for governments to strengthen their response. In particular, we are calling on governments to establish systems of official monitoring and data collection to fill the hate crime information gap. We are likewise urging them to improve criminal law and law enforcement procedures required to combat hate crimes. Stronger laws that expressly address violent hate crimes are necessary to more effectively deter, detect, and hold perpetrators accountable. International organizations also have an important role to play, and this Survey provides Recommendations for Strengthening the OSCE, in particular by advancing the organization’s tolerance and nondiscrimination agenda—of which combating hate crime is an important component. Details: New York: Human Rights First, 2008. 186p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 15, 2012 at http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/FD-081103-hate-crime-survey-2008.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/FD-081103-hate-crime-survey-2008.pdf Shelf Number: 124972 Keywords: Bias CrimeCrime RatesDiscriminationHate CrimeViolent Crime |
Author: Human Rights First Title: 2008 Hate Crime Survey Summary: Human Rights First’s 2008 Hate Crime Survey—our second annual study—is a review of the rising tide of hate crime covering the region from the Far East of the Russian Federation and the Central Asian states across Europe to North America: the 56 participating states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Human Rights First continues to document and analyze the reality of violent hate crime. We have reviewed available reports on violence motivated by prejudice and hatred, including the findings of the few official monitoring systems that provide meaningful statistical information. This data—combined with the findings of nongovernmental monitoring organizations as well as media reporting—provides important insights into the nature and incidence of violent hate crimes. Our aim is to raise the profile of these insidious crimes and the challenges they pose to societies that are becoming increasingly diverse. Hate crimes are everyday occurrences that result in broken windows and burnt out homes, mental distress and bodily harm—sometimes fatal. Hate crimes threaten whole communities who identify with the victim based on race, religion, or other attributes, leaving many to live in fear and alienated from the larger society. This report seeks to overcome official indifference and indecision in the fight against such crime. In the first part of this report, we examine six facets of hate crime in sections on Violence Based on Racism and Xenophobia, Antisemitic Violence, Violence Against Muslims, Violence Based on Religious Intolerance, Violence Against Roma, and Violence Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Bias. In the second part, we assess government responses to violent hate crimes in sections on Systems of Monitoring and Reporting and The Framework of Criminal Law. Details: New York: Human Rights First, 2008. 186p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 19, 2012 at: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/FD-081103-hate-crime-survey-2008.pdf Year: 2008 Country: International URL: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/FD-081103-hate-crime-survey-2008.pdf Shelf Number: 125263 Keywords: Bias CrimesDiscriminationHate Crime |
Author: Marwick, Alice Title: Online Harassment, Defamation, and Hateful Speech: A Primer of the Legal Landscape Summary: Although online harassment and hateful speech is a significant problem, there are few legal remedies for victims. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act provides internet service providers (including social media sites, blog hosting companies, etc.) with broad immunity from liability for user-generated content. Given limited resources, law enforcement personnel prioritize other cases over prosecuting internet-related issues. Similarly, there are often state jurisdictional issues which make successful prosecution difficult, as victim and perpetrator are often in different states, if not different countries. Internet speech is protected under the First Amendment. Thus, state laws regarding online speech are written to comply with First Amendment protections, requiring fighting words, true threats, or obscene speech (which are not protected). This generally means that most offensive or obnoxious online comments are protected speech. For an online statement to be defamatory, it must be provably false rather than a matter of opinion. This means that the specifics of language used in the case are extremely important. While there are state laws for harassment and defamation, few cases have resulted in successful prosecution. The most successful legal tactic from a practical standpoint has been using a defamation or harassment lawsuit to reveal the identities of anonymous perpetrators through a subpoena to ISPs then settling. During the course of our research, we were unable to find many published opinions in which perpetrators have faced criminal penalties, which suggests that the cases are not prosecuted, they are not appealed when they are prosecuted, or that the victim settles out of court with the perpetrator and stops pressing charges. As such, our case law research was effectively limited to civil cases. In offline contexts, hate speech laws seem to only be applied by courts as penalty enhancements; we could locate no online-specific hate speech laws. Given this landscape, the problem of online harassment and hateful speech is unlikely to be solved solely by victims using existing laws; law should be utilized in combination with other practical solutions. Details: New York: Center on Law and Information Policy, Fordham Law School, 2014. 75p. Source: Internet Resource: CLIP Report: Accessed June 19, 2014 at: http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=clip Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=clip Shelf Number: 132508 Keywords: Bias-Motivated CrimesFirst AmendmentHarassmentHate CrimeInternet CrimesOnline Victimization |
Author: Stop Street Harassment Title: Unsafe and Harassed in Public Spaces: A National Street Harassment Report Summary: From "hey baby" to "stupid fag," from flashing to groping, sexual harassment in public spaces, or "street harassment," is a problem many people experience, some with profound consequences. Since 2008, Stop Street Harassment (SSH) has collected thousands of street harassment stories. This groundbreaking study confirms what the stories suggest: Across all age, races, income levels, sexual orientations, and geographic locations, most women in the United States experience street harassment. Some men, especially men who identify as gay, bisexual, queer, or transgender, do as well. Methodology This report presents the findings of a 2,000-person, nationally representative survey (approximately 1,000 women and 1,000 men, ages 18 and up). GfK, a top surveying firm, conducted the Internet-based survey in February and March 2014. Additionally, SSH conducted 10 focus groups across the nation from August 2012 to March 2014. What is street harassment? "Street harassment" describes unwanted interactions in public spaces between strangers that are motivated by a person's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, or gender expression and make the harassee feel annoyed, angry, humiliated, or scared. Street harassment can take place on the streets, in stores, on public transportation, in parks, and at beaches. It ranges from verbal harassment to flashing, following, groping, and rape. It differs from issues like sexual harassment in school and the workplace or dating or domestic violence because it happens between strangers in a public place, which at present means there is less legal recourse. Why does this issue matter? Street harassment is a human rights violation and a form of gender violence. It causes many harassed persons, especially women, to feel less safe in public places and limit their time there. It can also cause people emotional and psychological harm. Everyone deserves to be safe and free from harassment as they go about their day. Details: Reston, VA: Stop Street Harassment, 2014. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 21, 2014 at: http://www.stopstreetharassment.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2014-National-SSH-Street-Harassment-Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.stopstreetharassment.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2014-National-SSH-Street-Harassment-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 132724 Keywords: Bias-Related CrimesFear of CrimeGenderHate CrimeHuman Rights AbusesPublic SpaceSexual Harassment |
Author: Chakraborti, Neil Title: Healing the Harms: Identifying How Best to Support Hate Crime Victims Summary: Every year hundreds of thousands of people in England and Wales suffer prejudice and hostility because of their identity or perceived 'difference'. This can include acts of physical violence, as well as the more 'everyday' forms of harassment and intimidation. Such victimisation is more commonly referred to as 'hate crime', which is defined by the College of Policing (2014: 3) as: 'Any crime or incident where the perpetrator's hostility or prejudice against an identifiable group of people is a factor in determining who is victimised.' The concept has come to be associated with five identity strands: namely, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and transgender status. According to official figures, in 2014-15 the Police Service recorded 52,528 hate crimes (Corcoran, Lader and Smith, 2015). It is widely acknowledged that this number is a considerable underestimate of the actual number of hate crimes taking place within England and Wales. The Crime Survey for England and Wales, which provides an alternative measure of hate crime victimisation, estimated that 222,000 incidents took place within the same time-frame (ibid, 2015). The issue of underreporting has been further highlighted through research which illustrates that the majority of hate crime victims do not report their experiences to the police or through available third-party reporting systems (Chakraborti, Garland, Hardy, 2014; Christmann and Wong, 2010). These studies suggest that there are a number of reasons as to why hate crime victims do not report their experiences to the police or to an alternative organisation. Many victims: - 'normalise' their experiences of hate crime - feel concerned about not being taken seriously - worry about retaliatory violence or making the situation worse - have a shortage of confidence in the criminal justice system - lack the time and emotional strength required to talk to a third party about their experiences Research also highlights that the majority of hate crime victims are not aware of or know how to access support services. This is especially concerning given that a growing body of research evidence shows that acts of hate crime cause significant emotional and physical damage to the well-being of victims, their families and wider communities (Iganski and Lagou, 2015; Chakraborti, Garland and Hardy, 2014). It is because of the significant levels of under-reporting and the relatively low uptake of support services that we lack a comprehensive understanding of how best to support those affected by hate crime. This report presents the findings of a study designed to identify the support needs of hate crime victims. The research was funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, and conducted in partnership with Hertfordshire Constabulary and Hertfordshire County Council. The specific aims of this research were: - to explore hate crime experiences in Hertfordshire; - to identify the extent to which actual and potential hate crime victims are aware of local and national support services; - to assess the actual or perceived barriers that prevent victims accessing support services; and - to provide an evidence-based template of good practice to inform the wider delivery of new and existing support services. If implemented, the recommendations included within this report have the capacity to make a sustained difference with respect to helping organisations and individuals support hate crime victims more effectively. Details: Leicester, UK: University of Leicester, Centre for Hate Studies, 2016. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 17, 2016 at: http://hertscommissioner.org/fluidcms/files/files/pdf/Victims-Commissioning/Healing-the-Harms---Final-Report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://hertscommissioner.org/fluidcms/files/files/pdf/Victims-Commissioning/Healing-the-Harms---Final-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 140788 Keywords: Bias CrimesHate CrimeVictim ServicesVictims of Crime |
Author: Mulholland, Sean E. Title: Hate Source: White Supremacist Hate Groups and Hate Crime Summary: The relationship between hate group activity and hate crime is theoretically ambiguous. Hate groups may incite criminal behavior in support of their beliefs. On the other hand, hate groups may reduce hate crime by serving as a forum for members to verbally vent their frustrations or as protection from future biased violence. I find that the presence of an active white supremacist hate group chapter is associated with an 18.7 percent higher hate crime rate. White supremacist groups are not associated with the level of anti-white hate crimes committed by non-whites, nor do they form in expectation of future hate crimes by non-whites. Details: Munich: Munich Personal RePEc Archive, 2011. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: MPRA Paper No. 28861: Accessed December 14, 2016 at: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/28861/1/MPRA_paper_28861.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/28861/1/MPRA_paper_28861.pdf Shelf Number: 144917 Keywords: Extremist GroupsHate CrimeRadical GroupsWhite Supremacists |
Author: Strong, Suzanne M. Title: Racial Conflict and Bias Crimes Across US Cities: An Analysis of the Social Threat Perspective Summary: This research examines racially biased crimes across US cities, utilizing social threat and a general criminality perspective based on social disorganization and strain theories. Racially biased crime is compared to violent crime in general and to unbiased racially disaggregated homicide to further examine the effects of social threat and general crime variables on different forms of violent crime. Data is compiled mainly from the 1990 and 2000 US Censuses, the 1996-2000 Uniform Crime Reports and the 1996-2000 Supplemental Homicide Reports. The research shows bias crimes cannot be explained utilizing general crime predictors. In particular, anti-Black violent bias crimes committed by Whites are mainly driven by economic forces, though not necessarily economically threatening conditions. Anti-White violent bias crimes committed by Blacks are more similar to homicides of Whites committed by Blacks, which is consistent with prior research. Additionally, the research shows the importance of complying with hate crime reporting requirements and region, again consistent with prior research. That is, the more frequently a city reports data, the higher the counts of bias crimes. Cities located in the South are less likely to have high counts of bias crimes, suggesting a lack of compliance with reporting requirements. These findings pertaining to reporting compliance offer support for social constructionist perspectives in the study of bias crimes. Details: Albany, NY: State University of New York at Albany, 2015. 165p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed April 10, 2017 at: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1666453286.html?FMT=ABS Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1666453286.html?FMT=ABS Shelf Number: 144762 Keywords: Bias-Motivated CrimeHate CrimeRacial BiasSocial Disorganization |
Author: Chalmers, James Title: A Comparative Analysis of Hate Crime Legislation: A Report to the Hate Crime Legislation Review Summary: In January 2017, the Scottish Government announced a review of hate crime legislation, chaired by Lord Bracadale. Lord Bracadale requested that, to assist the Review it its task, we produce a comparative report detailing principles underpinning hate crime legislation and approaches taken to hate crime in a range of jurisdictions. Work on this report commenced in late March 2017 and the final report was submitted to the Review in July 2017. Chapter 1 (What is Hate Crime?) explores what is meant by the term "hate crime", noting that different definitions may properly be used for different purposes. It notes that the legislative response to hate crime can be characterised by the definition offered by Chakraborti and Garland: the creation of offences, or sentencing provisions, "which adhere to the principle that crimes motivated by hatred or prejudice towards particular features of the victim's identity should be treated differently from 'ordinary' crimes". Chapter 2 (Hate Crime Legislation in Scotland) outlines the principal provisions of hate crime legislation, as identified in the Review's remit. These can be divided into two categories. First, sentence aggravation provisions, which do not create distinct criminal offences, but allow for offences aggravated by prejudice to be recorded as such and require the aggravation to be taken into account in sentencing. Secondly, substantive offences, which primarily consist of offences relating to the stirring up of racial hatred but also include offences of racially aggravated harassment and threatening communications intended to stir up hatred on religious grounds. Chapter 3 (Justifications for Punishing Hate Crime More Severely) considers the various possible justifications for treating hate crimes as more serious than parallel non-hate crimes. The possible justifications can be divided into three broad categories: harm-based justifications; culpability-based justifications; and denunciation-based justifications. Assessing the available evidence, it concludes that the argument that hate crimes are - compared to parallel non-hate crimes - more likely to cause harm both to the direct victim and to members of the group to which the victim belonged or was perceived to belong is particularly compelling. The argument that it is important to send a message to victims of hate crime that bias and inequality of treatment is roundly condemned by the State is also persuasive. Collectively, the harm argument and the denunciatory argument (and perhaps to a lesser extent the culpability argument) provide a compelling justification for punishing hate crime more severely Chapter 4 (Models of Hate Crime Legislation) considers two questions: first, how should hate crime be identified; and secondly, how should it be addressed - through substantive and distinct offences or the penalty attaching to general offences? In relation to the first question, it outlines two specific legislative models. The first is the discriminatory selection model (where a hate crime is committed where the victim has been selected because of their membership of a protected group). The second is the animus model (where the offender is motivated by, or demonstrates, prejudice against a protected group). It notes a clear preference for the animus model in legislative practice and strong arguments of principle in support. In relation to the second question, the chapter outlines three broad models: (i) the penalty enhancement model, (ii) the sentence aggravation model, and (iii) the substantive offence model, noting that jurisdictions may choose to combine these models rather than choosing one alone. It concludes by outlining the thresholds specified for a crime to count as a hate crime in a range of jurisdictions, and examines various questions about the precise formulation of these thresholds. Chapter 5 (Choice of Protected Characteristics) notes that the characteristics presently protected (in one form or another) under hate crime law in Scotland are race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and transgender identity. The chapter considers the range of characteristics protected in a range of other jurisdictions, noting that the characteristics protected in Scots law are the characteristics that are most commonly protected in the other jurisdictions analysed and that the two characteristics that are not presently protected in Scots law, but are most commonly protected in other jurisdictions, are age and sex . The chapter goes on to examine the principles which should guide a decision as to which characteristics should be protected. It notes a range of possibilities which have been identified in this respect, concluding that the most persuasive accounts are those that focus on identify groups that experience unjustified marginalisation or possess forms of difference that have a justifiable claim to respect. Chapter 6 (Hate Speech and Online Hate Crime) acknowledges that significant recent work has been carried out in relation to hate speech by the Law Commission and provides a high-level overview of the legal issues related to hate speech in a comparative perspective, including the applicability of legislation to online hate speech. It considers two questions of principle - what is hate speech, and what is the harm of hate speech? - before detailing offences relating to hate speech in a range of jurisdictions, considering both the legislative models adopted and the range of groups protected. It then outlines certain issues which arise in relation to hate speech online. Chapter 7 (Hate Crime Legislation in Selected Jurisdictions) details the legislative provisions relating to hate crime in a range of jurisdictions. The jurisdictions assessed are as follows: Australia (the six states and two territories are examined separately); Canada; England and Wales; New Zealand; Northern Ireland; Republic of Ireland; South Africa and ten jurisdictions in the United States of America (the jurisdictions selected for analysis being those which expressly protect characteristics which are not explicitly protected in any of the hate crime legislative provisions discussed elsewhere in the chapter). Chapter 8 (Approaches Taken in Other Jurisdictions Relevant to the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012) examines section 1 of the 2012 Act, which is distinct because it applies only to behaviour that takes place in relation to a regulated football match. The chapter outlines the background to the Act, sets out the offences contained in section 1 and details analogous legislation in other jurisdictions including England and Wales and Northern Ireland. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2017. 149p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 3, 2017 at: https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/hate-crime/independent-review-of-hate-crime-legislation/supporting_documents/495517_APPENDIX%20%20ACADEMIC%20REPORT.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/hate-crime/independent-review-of-hate-crime-legislation/supporting_documents/495517_APPENDIX%20%20ACADEMIC%20REPORT.pdf Shelf Number: 147537 Keywords: Bias-Motivated CrimeHate CrimeHate Crime LegislationHate SpeechOnline VictimizationPrejudice |
Author: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Title: Understanding Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes and Addressing the Security Needs of Jewish Communities: A Practical Guide Summary: Anti-Semitic harassment, violence or discrimination targets Jewish women, men, boys and girls and people perceived to be Jewish across the OSCE region. Jewish institutions, including synagogues, schools and cemeteries, as well as entities or events related to Israel, are also targeted for violence and vandalism. Hate crimes and threats motivated by anti-Semitism have a profound impact, not just on the victims of specific attacks, but also on the daily lives of Jewish individuals and communities in a range of ways: - Fear of attending worship services, entering synagogues or wearing distinguishing religious attire or symbols negatively affects the right of individuals and communities to manifest their religion or belief; - Out of fear, Jewish individuals may abstain from identifying publicly as Jews, expressing their cultural identity or attending Jewish cultural events - practically excluding Jews from public life; - In school, the workplace, social settings or on social media, Jewish people often self-censor and could cause them to be reticent to express empathy or support for Israel to avoid being stigmatized; - Anti-Semitic violence has forced Jewish schools and youth activities in many OSCE participating States to operate under heavy security measures. Even the youngest children grow up with a sense of fear and a consciousness of their vulnerability; and - The need to build or harden security perimeters is a financial burden often borne by Jewish institutions instead of governments, diverting funds from religious, cultural and educational activities. As a result, anti-Semitic violence threatens both the physical security of Jewish communities and infuses a sense of fear and insecurity among individuals within those communities. Details: Warsaw, Poland: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), 2017. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 15, 2017 at: http://www.osce.org/odihr/317166?download=true Year: 2017 Country: Europe URL: http://www.osce.org/odihr/317166?download=true Shelf Number: 148183 Keywords: Anti-Semitic ViolenceBias-Motivated CrimeHate Crime |
Author: Godzisz, Piotr Title: Forgotten Friends: ODIHR and Civil Society in the Struggle to Counter Hate Crime in Poland Summary: The report provides an overview and comparison of key developments in two areas of hate crime policy in Poland: data collection and criminal law. By doing so, it seeks to shed light on the role of international organizations in developing national hate crime measures. It is the first report of its kind with a particular focus on the role of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) - the most specialized of all international institutions dealing with hate crime. The purpose of this report is to develop concrete policy recommendations, based on an analysis of ongoing efforts, to key stakeholders involved in the work on advancing the response to hate crime in Poland. Key findings include: - International organizations, through periodic reviews and other mechanisms, have a significant influence on Poland's response to hate crimes. - This influence is visible in the area of hate crime data collection. While a number of actors have been active in this domain, creating an effect of synergy, the influence of supranational bodies seems instrumental. - Despite on-going debates, the legal framework on hate crimes has not changed. - The lack of progress in this area can be linked with the fact that the bulk of the efforts was on the shoulders of civil society organizations, which lack the leverage that supranational bodies have. - Cooperation between Polish civil society organizations and supranational bodies, aimed at amplifying civil society demands with regard to hate crime, seems to be an effective strategy. - ODIHR had an instrumental role in improving Poland's data collection mechanisms, but was absent from the debate on the amendment of the Criminal Code. Civil society organizations were not aware of ODIHR's mandate in this area and the possible role it could play. The report suggests that through active cooperation with civil society, not limited to hate crime reporting only, ODIHR may be able to identify possible new ways to support the state in countering hate crime. For the moment, civil society organizations in Poland and ODIHR, while cooperating in some areas, "forget" about each other in other areas. For ODIHR, strengthening the cooperation may open channels of communication with political decision makers who are not aware of ODIHR's mandate, for example in the area of legislative support. For civil society, this could mean receiving tangible support in the area where support is most needed. Details: Unpublished paper, 2015. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 6, 2018 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2704306 Year: 2015 Country: Poland URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2704306 Shelf Number: 149002 Keywords: Bias-Motivated CrimeHate CrimeHomophobiaRacism |
Author: Schweppe, Jennifer Title: Lifecycle of a Hate Crime: Comparative Report Summary: The following work presents, in detail, the final report which analyses the findings of in-depth primary and secondary research conducted over two years tracing the Lifecycle of a Hate Crime in selected EU jurisdictions. The research was undertaken in five jurisdictions within the EU - the Czech Republic, England and Wales, Ireland, Latvia, and Sweden in which contrasting approaches to addressing hate crime are evident. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the adoption by the EU Council of the Framework Decision on Combating Certain Forms and Expressions of Racism and Xenophobia (2008/913/JHA). Article 4 of the Framework Decision provides that for offenses other than incitement to violence or hatred, "Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that racist and xenophobic motivation is considered an aggravating circumstance, or, alternatively that such motivation may be taken into consideration by the courts in the determination of the penalties". In some of the jurisdictions examined, the national legislative framework underpinning hate crime may be considered robust. In others, laws are more limited. Less clear is the practical application of these laws, of how and in what manner crimes with a hate or bias element come to be prosecuted, and whether and why they may be overlooked or downgraded to generic offenses. To provide greater understanding of the operational realities of the treatment of hate crime in the criminal justice process researchers gathered experiential accounts of these laws "in action" from criminal justice professionals including lawyers and judges. Research teams also sought to investigate and document both victims' and offenders' experiences of the criminal justice system in respect to hate crime. In doing so, the research aims to provide a more holistic understanding of the "lifecycle" of a hate crime, from reporting to prosecution to sentencing, in order to identify gaps and good practices in the application of laws. The findings set out here shed new light on measures to combat hate crime for a wide range of stakeholders, including police, policy makers, lawyers, judges, victim support services, and civil society organizations working with victims and offenders. This report presents a comparative analysis of the findings from the research in each of the five jurisdictions as set out in the jurisdictional reports for the Czech Republic, England and Wales, Ireland, Latvia and Sweden. In jurisdictions where this was deemed appropriate, reports were accompanied by the production of practical information for judges and prosecutors to guide and inform them on matters which should be considered in the prosecution and punishment of hate crime. Details: Dublin: ICCL, 2018. 164p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2018 at: https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Life-Cycle-of-a-Hate-Crime-Comparative-Report-FINAL.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Europe URL: https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Life-Cycle-of-a-Hate-Crime-Comparative-Report-FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 149976 Keywords: Bias-Motivated CrimesCriminal ProsecutionDiscriminationHate CrimePrejudice |
Author: Granstrom, Gorel Title: Lifecycle of a Hate Crime. Country Report for Sweden Summary: Measures against crimes motivated by bias have been defined as a priority issue in Sweden since the mid-1990s. The Swedish Government has stated that these crimes are seen as a violation of human rights and, as such, important to combat. "Effective measures against racism and hate crime contribute towards the objective of ensuring full respect for Sweden's international human rights obligations. Combating racism and similar forms of hostility prevents the risk of individual's rights being infringed." For legal actors in the Swedish judicial system, prioritising hate crime concerns increasing the number of prosecutions and convictions and also furthering measures aimed at improving the way in which victims of hate crime are treated when they come into contact with the judicial system. This has for example been discussed in the context of supervisory reports regarding both the work of the police and the work of the prosecutors. As an example, it can be mentioned that in October 2017 an annual increase of SEK 10 million (approximately 1 million EUR) was announced in the budget of the Police Authority to be directed to the special democracy and hate crimes units within the three largest cities in Sweden. This extra funding is intended to provide the means for strengthening the capacity of the units to investigate hate crimes, by providing them with more opportunity for education and training, and also for improving coordination of the work among them. The aim of this study is to investigate the application of criminal laws and sentencing provisions regarding bias-motivated crimes in Sweden. Our goal is to identify best practices with regard to the tools used to combat bias-motivated crimes by studying legal regulations and policy documents and comparing these with the experiences of the legal actors (judges, prosecutors and defense lawyers) of how this legal framework is applied in practice. This is a study that contrasts law in books with law in action, in that, by interviewing those working with hate crime legislation, we have attempted to discover what works and where there is room for improvement. In line with this, we also interviewed victims of bias-motivated crimes and offenders who have committed such crimes. The overall aim is to investigate both how these groups have been met by the judicial system and their opinions of these meetings. Details: Umea, Sweden: Umea University, 2017. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2018 at: https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Life-Cycle-of-a-Hate-Crime-Country-Report-for-Sweden-English.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Sweden URL: https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Life-Cycle-of-a-Hate-Crime-Country-Report-for-Sweden-English.pdf Shelf Number: 150026 Keywords: Bias-Motivated Crimes Criminal Prosecution DiscriminationHate Crime Prejudice |
Author: Haynes, Amanda Title: Lifecycle of a Hate Crime: Country Report for Ireland Summary: This research is the Irish report of a five jurisdiction study which seeks to understand the Lifecycle of a Hate Crime as it navigates through the criminal justice process. The other partners to the research are the Czech Republic, Latvia, Sweden, and England and Wales. The project adopted the definition of a hate crime as promulgated by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), that is: "... criminal acts committed with a bias motive. It is this motive that makes hate crimes different from other crimes. A hate crime is not one particular offence. It could be an act of intimidation, threats, property damage, assault, murder or any other criminal offence. The term "hate crime" or "bias crime", therefore, describes a type of crime, rather than a specific offence within a penal code. A person may commit a hate crime in a country where there is no specific criminal sanction on account of bias or prejudice. The term describes a concept, rather than a legal definition." The purpose of this research was to understand and explore the Lifecycle of a Hate Crime in the Irish criminal justice process. The objectives of the research across all five jurisdictions were to: - Detail the operational realities of hate crime legislation by gathering experiential accounts of the legislation 'in action' from legal professionals; - Document differences in both victims' and offenders' experiences of the criminal justice process according to the legislative and policy context; and - Identify shortfalls in the legislative responses to Article 4 of the Frame- work Decision on Racism and Xenophobia. To this end, the research partners were tasked with conducting a doctrinal analysis of hate crime legislation in each jurisdiction; exploring policies pertaining to policing and prosecutorial functions in relation to hate crime; conducting a secondary analysis of statistics on the recording, prosecution and sentencing of hate crime; and conducting interviews with victims, previous offenders, judges, prosecutors, and defense practitioners. The research sought to illuminate the period between 2011 and 2016. Details: Dublin: ICCL, 2017. 216p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 7, 2018 at: https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hate-Crime-Report-LR-WEB.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Ireland URL: https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hate-Crime-Report-LR-WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 150086 Keywords: Bias-Motivated CrimesCriminal ProsecutionDiscriminationHate CrimePrejudice |
Author: Kamenska, Anhelita Title: Lifecycle of a Hate Crime. Country Report for Latvia Summary: Recent years have seen positive, but at the same time insufficient developments in combatting and preventing hate crimes in Latvia. Changes have predominantly taken place in the legislation, largely as a result of Latvia's international obligations. In Latvia, much attention is paid to the incitement of hatred issues, particularly on the Internet, which have also been impacted by different foreign and domestic political events, such as the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, migration, etc. while public information about hate crimes is rare. The 2014 Criminal Law amendments which envisage criminal liability for incitement to social hatred on grounds of gender, age, disability and other characteristics, should be generally viewed positively as they expand the protection of vulnerable groups against hate crimes and hate speech. Although the list of protected characteristics is open, nevertheless, the legislator by explicitly naming a characteristic or a specific group sends a signal that manifestations of hatred against the group are unacceptable in Latvia. Despite the surveys in Latvia and wider European Union, which indicate high levels of homophobia in Latvia, there was insufficient political commitment by the parliament to include sexual orientation among protected characteristics. While racist motive was made aggravating circumstance already in 2006, and "national, ethnic and religious motive" was added in 2014, allegedly to bring the Latvian legislation in line with Article 4 of Framework Decision 2008/913/JH on combatting certain forms and expression of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law, this provision has never been applied in practice. Thus, the transposition can be considered as formal as some of the leading criminal law experts have not been able to provide sufficient clarification for its application. Training of police officers to identify and investigate hate crimes has increased. The signing of an agreement between the OSCE/ODIHR and the State Police in Latvia in December 2014, trainings organized in co-operation with the State Police College and NGOs, as well as the guidelines on hate crime identification and investigation issued by the State Police in August 2018, are welcome developments. However, the training of the representatives of law enforcement bodies and judicial bodies is irregular and not systematic. Official data about hate crimes and incitement to hatred cases are limited, the number of opened criminal proceedings during the year remain small. Unofficial statistics compiled by NGOs, such as the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and the Association of LGBT and their friends "Mozaīka" indicate a higher number of crimes motivated by race, xenophobia and homophobia than those that come to the attention of national authorities. There remains very serious concern about the unwillingness of hate crime victims to report hate crimes to the law enforcement authorities. Although the legislation provides for a significant range of victims' rights which have also been expanded through the adoption of the EU's Victims' Rights, support to victims in practice remains inadequate. Latvia has no special support programmes for hate crime victims and overall, the country falls behind in general victim support structures and programmes compared with most EU Member States. For the first time, in 2015 the Latvian government granted state funding for social rehabilitation services to adult victims of all crimes. The financial support by the government and selected municipalities to different civil society projects aimed at promoting tolerance and combatting hate crimes and hate speech has increased, nevertheless it remains small. This hinders NGOs from planning long-term and sustainable projects. In recent years there have also been several research projects about different aspects of hate crimes and hate speech. Both the research conducted by the Ombudsman's Office in 2016 and the research conducted by the Latvian Centre for Human Rights in 2017 within the framework of the current project (30 police officers, prosecutors, judges and defense counsels were interviewed) address a range of topical issues related to the identification, investigation, prosecution and trial of hate crime and incitement to hatred cases. These include a need for government strategy to tackle hate crimes and hate speech, need for regular training, including multi-disciplinary training of the law enforcement and judicial sector, measures that would encourage and increase hate crime reporting by the victims. They also analyse gaps in the implementation of criminal law provisions, issues related to the selection of external experts and criteria for external expert opinions (an issue that has been unresolved for over a decade) in incitement to hatred cases and call for information campaigns to promote tolerance. Many of the issues addressed by the research are not new, however, their resolution will not be successful without the commitment of relevant national authorities, sustained government support and adequate understanding that hate speech and hate crimes can strike at the very fundamentals of the Latvian society. Details: Riga, Latvia: Latvian Centre for Human Rights, 2017. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 7, 2018 at: http://cilvektiesibas.org.lv/media/attachments/01/03/2018/ENG_brosura_internetam.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Latvia URL: http://cilvektiesibas.org.lv/media/attachments/01/03/2018/ENG_brosura_internetam.pdf Shelf Number: 150087 Keywords: Bias-Motivated CrimesCriminal ProsecutionDiscriminationHate CrimePrejudice |
Author: Campbell, Alastair P. (Lord Bracadale) Title: Independent Review of Hate Crime Legislation in Scotland: Final Report Summary: Lord Bracadale was appointed by Scottish Ministers in January 2017 to conduct an independent review of hate crime legislation in Scotland. He was asked to consider: - the current law and consider how well it deals with hate crime behaviour - whether new statutory aggravations should be created for example in relation to age and gender - whether the religious statutory aggravation is fit for purpose or should be expanded - whether we should make hate crime laws simpler by bringing them all together in one place - any issues or gaps in the framework for hate crime laws and to make sure that hate crime laws are compatible with laws that protect human rights and equality Lord Bracadale's report provides his recommendations which are based on evidence and what he has learnt from a wide range of people about their experiences of hate crime and the impact that this can have on individuals and communities. Lord Bracadale's report considers: - Whether hate crime laws are needed - What is working well under the current system and should be retained - What should be changed and what the benefit would be - What policy and procedural developments are underway or planned Details: Edinburgh, Scottish Government, 2018. 148p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 8, 2018 at: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00535892.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00535892.pdf Shelf Number: 150512 Keywords: Bias-Motivated CrimeHate CrimeHate Crime LegislationHuman Rights Abuses |
Author: Simich, Laura Title: Questioning Bias: Validating a Bias Crime Victim Assessment Tool in California and New Jersey, Summary Overview Summary: Hate crime victimization is significantly under-reported both by victims and by law enforcement agencies in the United States (Berk et al., 2003; Herek et al., 1999, Levin & McDevitt, 1993; 2002; McPhail, 2002; Perry, 2001; Perry, 2002; Shively, 2005, Shively et al., 2014; Shively & Mulford, 2007). In the absence of better ways to support victims and to identify and respond to hate crime victimization, hate crimes may go unrecognized and unpunished, particularly among certain at-risk groups. The purpose of this two-year study (2016-2017) was to investigate experiences of hate incidents, crimes and factors affecting underreporting among youth and adults in LGBT, Hispanic, Black, Muslim communities in New Jersey and Los Angeles. Based on the research findings, the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) has developed an assessment tool to improve the identification of hate crime victimization, the Bias Crime Assessment Tool (BCAT), which aims to better reflect victims' experiences, increase confidence in the reporting process, increase the ability of these groups to identify hate crime victimization and help to record more accurate data. Accompanied by Guidelines for users, the BCAT is intended for law enforcement, schools and community groups who wish to increase the likelihood that victims will feel encouraged to report, and to help authorities respond to hate incidents and crimes in a meaningful way. This summary uses the terms bias crime and hate crime interchangeably. Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice and the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, 2018. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 2, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/252010.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/252010.pdf Shelf Number: 153114 Keywords: Bias CrimeBias Crime Assessment ToolCommunity GroupsHate CrimeHispanicLaw EnforcementLGBTMuslim |
Author: Great Britain. House of Commons. Petitions Committee Title: Online abuse and the experience of disabled people. First Report of Session 2017-19 Summary: Social media is a means for people to organise, campaign and share experiences. It helps them to access services, manage their careers, shop, date and navigate a society that is too often designed without disabled people in mind. The disabled people we heard from were some of social media's most enthusiastic users. However, their experiences and Katie Price's petition highlight the extreme level of abuse that disabled people receive online-not just on social media, but in online games, web forums, newspaper comments sections and elsewhere. It is shameful that disabled people have had to leave social media whilst their abusers continue unchecked. Self-regulation of social media has failed disabled people. We agree with Katie Price's petition that the law on online abuse is not fit for purpose. Laws which cannot act against fake child pornography designed to mock a disabled child and his family cannot be considered adequate. Online abuse can destroy people's careers, their social lives and do lasting damage to their health. People should not have to avoid their town centre, local park or place of work to avoid sustained abuse, mockery and threats. Online spaces are just as important in the modern world and should be treated as such. Our recommendations focus on the experiences of disabled people as told to us during our inquiry and consultation events. We recognise there is wider work to do on the law on online abuse and the governance of social media. This is being taken up by other Select Committees. Our conclusions and recommendations should be read as a contribution to the conversation around online abuse, disability and the responsibility to ensure that offline and online spaces are safe and inclusive. For our part, our recommendations include: - The Government and social media companies must directly consult with disabled people on digital strategy and hate crime law. It is not enough to just provide alternative formats-though that is crucially importantor consult with self-appointed representatives. - Social media companies need to accept their responsibility for allowing toxic environments to exist unchallenged. They must ensure that their mechanisms and settings for managing content are accessible to and appropriate for all disabled people. They need to be more proactive in searching for and removing hateful and abusive content. They must demonstrate that they have worked in partnership with disabled people to achieve this. - The Government needs to recognise that the way disabled people are often marginalised offline plays a significant part in the abuse they receive online. It needs to challenge stereotypes and prejudices about disabled people, particularly among children and young people, and require proportionate representation of disabled people in its advertising. - Disability hate crime is not fully recognised and perpetrators are not appropriately punished. The law on hate crime must give disabled people the same protections as those who suffer hate crime due to race or religion. - The criminal justice system is too quick to categorise disabled people as "vulnerable". Hostility towards disabled people is often based on a perception that they are an easy target who can't contribute to society. The Government must recognise the links between prejudice against disabled people and their perceived vulnerability. Crimes against disabled people by reason of their disability should be recorded and sentenced as hate crimes. - It must be possible to see if someone has been convicted of a hate crime on the grounds of disability before employing them to work closely with disabled people. If the Government acts on our other recommendations, this should be possible through a Disclosure and Barring Service check. - The Government must review the experience of disabled people when reporting crimes and giving evidence. Too many disabled people have not been treated seriously because frontline officers and staff do not understand disability. Training and support is needed to overcome this. Good practice is too often isolated to a few specially trained police officers and initiatives. - The Government needs to review the law on exploitation within friendships or relationships. Social media companies need to review their processes and provide advice and support for those who identify as needing additional protection. In doing so, both Government and social media companies must consult directly with disabled people and respect their rights to make their own decisions about their lives. Details: London: House of Commons, 2019. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: HC 759: Accessed March 12, 2019 at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmpetitions/759/759.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmpetitions/759/759.pdf Shelf Number: 154898 Keywords: Disabled PersonsHate CrimeInternet CrimeOnline VictimizationSocial Media |