types of perpetrators

The discussion of types of hate offenders is grounded in the influential work of McDevitt and colleagues, who examined 169 hate crime cases investigated by the Boston Police Department:

1. Thrill-Seeking Offenders

   • Represent about 2/3 of assessed cases.

   • Typically teenagers or young adults acting in groups.

   • Engage in hate crimes for excitement, knowing it is wrong but enjoying the adrenaline.

   • Targets selected based on perceived differences.

2. Defensive Offenders

   • Comprise around 25% of cases.

   • Believe they are protecting their neighborhoods from outsiders.

   • Example: Related to the Cronulla riots in 2005.

3. Retaliatory Offenders

   • Make up less than 10% of cases.

   • Travel to victim's territory to retaliate for perceived past wrongs.

4. Committed Offenders

   • Approximately 1% of cases.

   • Have strong allegiance to biased ideologies, typically far-right views.

Research highlights that many offenders may feel disenfranchised by authorities and blame ethnic minority groups for societal issues. Key contributors to hate crime motivations can include:

• Poor physical or mental health in families, lack of education, and histories of criminal behavior.

• Experiences of deprivation, mental health issues, domestic violence, drug abuse, and patterns of criminality can characterize their backgrounds.

Specific Hate Crimes and Examples

• Anti-Muslim Hate:

  • Acts post-9/11 have showcased a significant rise in Islamophobia.

  • Notable event: The Christchurch mosque shooting (March 15, 2019) where 51 people were killed.

  • Resulted in increased reporting of hate against Muslims post-event.

• Homophobic Hate:

  • Case of Matthew Shepard (1998): Beaten and murdered; attackers charged with murder but not hate crimes due to lack of legislation.

  • The Matthew Shepard Act (2009) was later enacted to define hate crimes more clearly in relation to victim identity.

• Emerging Trends in Hate Crimes:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic saw an influx in hate crimes against Asian communities, notably due to scapegoating related to virus origins.

  • Studies show many incidents went unreported, highlighting under-reporting in minority groups.

Online Hate Crime:

• Distinctions between online hate and traditional bullying; online hate typically involves targeted abuse based on identity.

• Characteristics include:

  • Permanence of online content and anonymity which facilitates the spread of hate.

  • Digital footprints are lasting and difficult to remove, leading to a potentially wider audience.