Summary
“The high level of trauma associated with hate crimes may also be due to the fact that they tend to be more violent than other criminal offenses. According to a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), 92% of all hate crimes were violent between 2007 and 2011. Experts have further noted that the violence associated with hate crimes can be extreme, with murder victims exhibiting signs of literal overkill. With respect to anti-disability biases in particular, hate crimes “often involve extraordinary levels of sadism.” Another challenge associated with hate crimes is escalation. In the absence of public condemnation for the bias underlying a hate crime, offenders may come to believe that others share and condone their prejudice. As a result, they may be emboldened to continue or escalate their actions. The targeted communities, meanwhile, may seek redress for the bias motivation on their own, leading to a cycle of retaliatory crimes. Law enforcement officials must therefore acknowledge the underlying bias in order to address and prevent hate crime in their jurisdictions.”--Page 4.