Chapter 2 1-11 CJS

Hate Crimes

Definition:

• Hate crimes are violent acts intentionally directed towards individuals or groups based on identifiable characteristics such as:

  • Racial

  • Ethnic

  • Religious

  • Sexual orientation

  • Gender

  • Gender identity

  • Disability

• These crimes are often fueled by bias or hatred against certain groups. Common examples include:

  • Desecration of houses of worship, including synagogues, mosques, and cemeteries.

  • Harassment and intimidation faced by families moving into neighborhoods undergoing demographic changes.

  • Racially motivated murders and violent assaults targeting specific ethnic groups.

Statistics:

• The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program recorded in 2018:

  • Reports from 16,039 law enforcement agencies documenting a total of 7,120 hate crime incidents.

• Findings reveal:

  • Approximately 50% of reported hate crimes were motivated by racial, ethnic, or ancestry bias.

  • Other biases included those based on religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and gender.

  • Most hate crimes targeted individuals, manifesting primarily through intimidation and assaults.

Case Study: Patrick Wood Crusius

• On August 3, 2019, Patrick Wood Crusius conducted a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas.

  • He was charged with murdering 22 individuals and attempting to murder 23 others.

  • Faced a total of 90 charges, including several hate crime charges.

  • In a manifesto, he expressed motivations saying, "This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas... defending my country from cultural replacement," demonstrating a dangerous blend of hate and violence.

Overview of Crime Data Collection

• The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program plays a vital role in:

  • Collecting data on hate crimes to discern trends and patterns over time.

  • While there has been a general decline in reported hate crimes, violence against individuals reached a 16-year high in 2018, underscoring the urgent need for effective interventions.

Crime and its Definitions:

• `Consensus View:

  • Criminal behavior is harmful to the majority and is controlled by law.

  • Criminal law reflects the prevailing social norms, goals, and values of society.

• Conflict View:

  • Criminal laws are viewed as tools for controlling and oppressing marginalized groups.

  • These laws primarily serve the interests of the wealthy, protecting property and maintaining their societal status.

• Interactionist View:

  • Criminal laws reflect the preferences of influential social groups that impose their values on society.

  • Examples include changing norms surrounding crimes like marital rape.

Careers in Criminal Justice: Crime Analysts

Role and Responsibilities:

• Crime analysts are essential to the criminal justice system, responsible for:

  • Studying crime patterns and analyzing crime data for trend assessment.

  • Forecasting potential crime occurrences based on historical data.

  • Conducting various forms of crime analysis (tactical, strategic, and administrative) to inform policy-making and law enforcement strategies.

Job Outlook and Salary:

• The job outlook for crime analysts is promising with:

  • Entry-level positions starting around $60,000 annually.

  • Experienced analysts potentially earning $100,000 or more, reflecting a strong career trajectory.

Qualifications:

• Typically requires:

  • A 4-year degree in criminal justice or a related field.

  • Knowledge and skills in data collection, statistical analysis, and critical thinking.

Categories of Crime

Violent Crimes:

• Violent crimes involve aggressive behavior towards individuals, categorized as:

  • Expressive Crimes: Motivated by strong emotions such as anger or revenge.

  • Instrumental Crimes: Aimed at financial gain or acquiring property.

  • Despite the decline in violent crime rates, societal fears remain prevalent.

Property Crimes:

• More common than violent crimes, property crimes include:

  • Theft of personal property.

  • Vandalism and property damage.

• Burglary vs. Robbery:

  • Burglary involves illegally entering a property with intent to commit a crime.

  • Robbery is theft that involves the use of force or intimidation.

Public Order Crimes:

• These crimes are deemed illegal by societal norms and often include moral offenses such as:

  • Prostitution.

  • Drug use.

White-Collar and Corporate Crimes:

• Non-violent offenses committed for financial gain, covering:

  • Fraud.

  • Embezzlement.

  • Manipulation of business practices.

• These crimes typically incur less severe penalties than violent crimes, despite their significant impact on victims.

Organized Crime:

• Involves illicit activities carried out by structured groups for profit, such as:

  • Drug trafficking.

  • Human trafficking, frequently exploiting vulnerable populations.

Opioid Epidemic:

• The opioid crisis has led to over 400,000 deaths in the U.S. since 2000 due to opioid overdoses.

• Key observations:

  • Heroin use has grown particularly among young, white individuals, contrasting with previous associations of opioid misuse with urban users.

  • Contributing factors to the crisis include:

    • Poorly managed prescription practices leading to widespread substance abuse.

    • Economic factors wherein the availability of affordable heroin presents a viable option for those faced with high-priced prescription drugs.