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Hate-Crime Legislation Examples

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An example of the core legislation in regards to hate crimes is the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (2009). This act is imperative because it mandates that the federal government become involved with any alleged hate crime, even if the state does not investigate. Additionally, it expands the degree of investigation that the FBI can engage in when determining if an offense is a crime of prejudice. Four areas, it can investigate which were previously unexamined include sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability. This is of great significance because it emphasizes that no group is overlooked, and that all are included. The most essential thing that the Hate Crimes Prevention Act does is to provide …show more content…

This perspective is shared by Elizabeth Birch in her piece “Hate Crime Laws are Needed to Protect Gays and Lesbians,” when she asserts, “Opponents of the hate-crime legislation like to obfuscate the issue by the saying that hate-crime laws punish thought. However, the HCPA does not apply to hateful thoughts, just violent actions that cause bodily injuries or death” (122). This quote, in essence, serves as a reflection of how a line of difference is drawn between hateful thoughts and prejudice that begets …show more content…

According to “The Gay Lesbian, and Straight Education Network”, there are approximately 15 states that have anti-bullying laws on the books while 45 others do not. The laws within these states focus on enumeration which lists different groups and individuals that might be targeted, and provides indicators to look for. In addition to anti-bullying laws, there are 13 states which have non-discrimination policies on their books as well, which include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes. According to “The New York Times” article “Bullying Law Puts New Jersey School on

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A hate crime is defined as a “ crime committed because of

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This act was established by the federal law within the US and passed in October 2009 by the Congress (Altschiller, 2015). It protects individuals from hate crimes that may be directed to them by other individuals. As a result of their differences in gender, ethnicity, and origin. This act gives the justice system of the US the authority to punish those who engage in hate crimes that are motivated by their victim’s race, religion and ethnicity among others. Moreover, for a victim the hate crime to be protected by this act, he or she does not

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1202 Words | 5 Pages

A hate crime is defined as a “ crime committed because

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led Congress to expand on this law. In 2009 the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed into law. This act made it much easier to prosecute suspects of hate crimes. For someone to be accused of a hate crime before this act, the victim had to be involved in a federal protected activity like serving in court.

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The U.S. later legalized it in 2009. This act augmented penalties for crimes perpetrated against one’s ethnicity, nationality, language, religion, age, disability, sexual identity, or sexual preference. Today, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act is “effectively recognizing the importance of prosecuting violence motivated by racism or other bias-related crimes” (2). The act serves as evidence of progress towards equality. The government is saying that all men are created equal and should be treated in the same manner, and if one chooses to oppose this proposition, they will encounter strict

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959 Words | 4 Pages

During this gruesome beating, it was Dedmon who shouted “White power”, as a response to some encouragement from others. Then Dedmon got into his truck and deliberately ran over Anderson, thus killing him. Anderson was 47 years old, and his sister told the three men at the sentencing, "May God have mercy on your sin-sick souls. " The federal statute that all three men violated were the Matthew Shepherd and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which President Obama signed into law in 2009. Almost 4 years after her brother was murdered, Dedmon’s violence would be met with the punishment of 50 years in prison that runs in concurrence with his two life state

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912 Words | 4 Pages

Currently, the United State’s criterion on Speech includes, “obscenity, fraud, child pornography, harassment, incitement to illegal conduct and imminent lawless action, true threats, and commercial speech such as advertising, copyright or patent rights” (Gaudefroy 3). However, speech involving discriminatory words or racial intentions are protected by the law. To avoid instances that degrade the minority group, stricter rules need to be enforced on the delicate topic. Restrictions on hate speech should include usage of “misogynistic, homophobic, racist, and conspiracy-laden language” (Gaudefroy 3). Efforts to restrict these types of beliefs would create a more safe and equal society for all individuals.

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According to the congress, a hate crime is a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, ethnic origin or sexual orientation.” (2015, January 07). Hate Crime—Overview. FBI. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov

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1471 Words | 6 Pages

The intentions were great, and did make a great effort in achieving such, but there was still a notable hate culture present in America. Fast forward to the 1990s. The term “hate crime” has now been coined, and state legislation surrounding the term is beginning to form. Coined within the decade prior, the term was now known to coincide with other wide-spread terms of discriminatory bias; such as prejudice, xenophobia, homophobia, etcetera.

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839 Words | 4 Pages

Through hate crime laws, a blanket understanding of what is allowed, and illegal is known by

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According to Gerstenfeld, hate crimes “may or may not include sexual orientation, gender, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, or political affiliation.” Some argue that every group should be protected by hate crime legislation, but this runs the risk of watering down the significance of such protections. The groups that are most frequently targeted by hate crimes including African Americans, gays and lesbians, Jews, and Muslims should be prioritized over other groups. Historically, the most targeted groups in the United States are African Americans, LGBT community, Jews, and Muslims. These groups are undoubtedly in the most need for protections provided by hate crime laws.

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These factors can encompass crimes that are motivated by an individual's religion, sexual orientation, or race. Hate crimes can target the individual, their property, or society as a whole. Comprehending these characteristics is essential for criminologists to ascertain the specific knowledge that is missing in

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It also helps those who are afraid to speak out on hate crime or who have no opinionated voice be strong. Legislation allows for certain people to be protected under the law from hate crimes against them regardless of a prejudice. However, the disagreement against this is that if the government focuses too much on those who are afraid and defenseless, than those who wish to banish them have an easier time to criticize them because the government is so focused on making them an example of someone to protect. In effect, this makes them just as vulnerable for the focus being directed

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In the recent news, everyone’s heard of the rise in hate crime. Most hate crime is “motivated by racial, sexual, or other prejudice, typically one involving violence,” (Dictionary.com). Hate crimes have spanned across the country and impact thousands of lives each year. The FBI started investigating hate crimes at the turn of the 20th century. The FBI define hate crime as, “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity,” (FBI).

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1024 Words | 5 Pages

The growing population of 10 billion people will significantly impact the amount of food waste each year due to food being poorly managed which causes basic needs from being fulfilled. The best viable solution to this concern includes how consumers handle wasted foods. In recent years, the growing population causes foods to be discharged in landfills because they are poorly managed. This occurs mostly in the less developed countries where people don 't have the technology to have proper infrastructure.

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