hate crimes
STUDY GUIDE
Hate Crimes Spring 2013
This study guide is offered as a starting point for your studies. It is not exhaustive. All topics covered in class lectures, readings and films may appear on the exam.
The Hows and Whys of Hate Crime Laws
What is a hate crime?
A crime motivated by racial, sexual, or other prejudice
How many hate crimes were recorded by the FBI in its most recent hate crime report?
6,222
According to the Petrosinos article and our text, were there hate crimes before hate crime laws? Give examples and discuss.
What is a lynching? How many lynchings are estimated to have taken place in our country? What are some reasons that people were lynched? (www.withoutsanctuary.org)
Killing people in mob form. 4,743 lynchings were estimated to happen. Reasons were people blamed blacks for their financial problems after slavery was ended. Whites were lynched for helping blacks.
Who was Emmett Till?
A 14 year old African American boy, who was murdered after reportedly flirting with a white woman. Her husband beat Till and gouged out one of his eyes then shot him in the head and threw him in a river
When and why were the Civil Rights Acts (CRA) passed?
Passed in 1964 after John F. Kennedys speech where he said this country will not be free until all its citizens are free
What were the limitations of the CRA in the context of hate crimes?
Only applied if the victim of the crime is engaged during one of the six federally protected activities, like voting or an involvement with inner state commerce
When were the first hate crime laws passed?
In the 1990’s
What are the four types of hate crime laws and what do they do? You should be able to discuss each in detail.
1990 – Hate crimes statistics act. Collect data from local law enforcements
1994 – Hate crimes sentencing enhancement act – increase sentencing on hate crime offenders
1994 – Violence against women act – victims of gender based crimes can sue attackers
Hate Crimes Spring 2013
This study guide is offered as a starting point for your studies. It is not exhaustive. All topics covered in class lectures, readings and films may appear on the exam.
The Hows and Whys of Hate Crime Laws
What is a hate crime?
A crime motivated by racial, sexual, or other prejudice
How many hate crimes were recorded by the FBI in its most recent hate crime report?
6,222
According to the Petrosinos article and our text, were there hate crimes before hate crime laws? Give examples and discuss.
What is a lynching? How many lynchings are estimated to have taken place in our country? What are some reasons that people were lynched? (www.withoutsanctuary.org)
Killing people in mob form. 4,743 lynchings were estimated to happen. Reasons were people blamed blacks for their financial problems after slavery was ended. Whites were lynched for helping blacks.
Who was Emmett Till?
A 14 year old African American boy, who was murdered after reportedly flirting with a white woman. Her husband beat Till and gouged out one of his eyes then shot him in the head and threw him in a river
When and why were the Civil Rights Acts (CRA) passed?
Passed in 1964 after John F. Kennedys speech where he said this country will not be free until all its citizens are free
What were the limitations of the CRA in the context of hate crimes?
Only applied if the victim of the crime is engaged during one of the six federally protected activities, like voting or an involvement with inner state commerce
When were the first hate crime laws passed?
In the 1990’s
What are the four types of hate crime laws and what do they do? You should be able to discuss each in detail.
1990 – Hate crimes statistics act. Collect data from local law enforcements
1994 – Hate crimes sentencing enhancement act – increase sentencing on hate crime offenders
1994 – Violence against women act – victims of gender based crimes can sue attackers