Learning Resources: Characteristics of hate Crime

Hate Crimes
Name
Institution
Case identification
According to the article contained in New York Times on April 26, 2008 a Queens judge acquitted three detectives who were charged for shooting Sean Bell, a black American (Wilson, 2008). Mr. Bell was shot by the detectives on the eve of his wedding day after an argument with them. The acquittal of detectives by the Queens judge was condemned by many people, who felt that detectives had committed a serious hate crime against Sean Bell. The judge was accused of bias, for not pressing any charges against the detectives, even after they had fired 50 shots at Bell’s car, killing him instantly and injuring two of his friends. Much of the debate is as a result of the surprising decision that the Judge felt there was absolutely no incriminating evidence against the three. It is something that has continued raising much discussion concerning racial hate crimes and partiality of judges when it comes to such rulings.
Characteristics of hate Crime
Understanding characteristics and nature of hate crimes is essential in the identification of such crimes. Hate crimes have various characteristics. First, a hate crime is characterized by total dislike of someone and prejudice (Taylor, Fritsch, Liederbach, & Holt, 2011). Perpetrators of hate crimes have intense bitterness that is motivated by bias against a certain race or other social group.
Secondly, hate crime is characterized by attacks inspired by other frustrations. Hate crime may be perpetrated if individual interests or affiliations are not met or interfered with by other social groups' decisions. This case is common in political outcomes that usually result in a high number of hate crimes incidences. Thirdly, hate crime is characterized by retaliatory attacks after certain outcomes. Hate crime can arise after political or other competing social contexts in which the losing side may initiate attacks on their opponents from other social classes.
Also, hate crimes are selective. It is usually directed to...