Hate / Bias Crime

            
             The Hate Crime is violence or harassment motivated by a bias against a victim's characteristics which include race, religion, ethnic background, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation, and represents a serious threat to all communities. Experts estimate that a bias-related crime is committed every 14 minutes. Criminal justice officials and state policy makers need to realize that it is key to make or adjust hate crime legislation. This has been a heated debate for the last century. I think more hate crime legislation is the key to solving the ever-growing problem of hate crimes.
             The first legislative efforts to address bias-related crimes dated back to the late 19th century, which was a response to the expanding Ku Klux Klan and segregation in the south. Such laws included mandates against wearing masks and hoods. The next wave of legislation relating to hate crimes resulted from the movement for increased protection for civil rights in the face of widespread racial prejudice shown by segregated buildings and restricted access to public and private resources. The most recent legislation has been directed specifically to acts of hate against people of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
             The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, S. 625, also known as the Hate Crime Prevention Act, if enacted would strengthen current law as it relates to hate crimes motivated by a victim's race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, etc. Hate crimes are not only destructive to the victims themselves, but also damaging to the victim's families and friends. It also is very damaging to our American ideals. America stands and shines for diversity and equality. In a way, hate crimes are not only threatening to the individual being attacked but to America as a whole.
             Last year, Congress had the chance to pass strong hate crimes legislation. On June 19, 2000, the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2000 was approved by the senate as an amendment to the defense authorization bill.