Hate_Crimes

Associate Level Material Appendix H Outline and Thesis Statement Guide What is your thesis statement' Hate crimes are committed with the intent not only of sending a message to the targeted victim, but also to the community as a whole. I. Why and who hate crimes affect II. Hate crimes affect the victim as well as the community A. What effects can hate crimes have on victims 1. Victims of violent hate crimes may suffer from more psychological distress, depression, stress, anxiety, anger than victims of other comparable violent crimes 2. Survivors of violent crimes, including hate crimes, are also at risk for developing a variety of mental health problems including depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder B. What effects can a hate crime have on communities 1. They affect community cohesion and social stability 2. Crimes of this nature traumatize the entire community III. Hate crimes differ from other crimes in their effect on victims and on community stability A. Hate crimes are often especially brutal or injurious 1. Victim’s usually feel traumatized and terrified 2. Families of victims often feel frustrated and powerless B. Others in the community who share the victim's characteristics may feel victimized and vulnerable 1. Hate incidents can escalate and prompt retaliatory action 2. Hate crimes and hate incidents create communitywide unrest IV. Hate crimes can happen for many reasons A. Hate crimes are those in which victims are chosen solely or primarily because of their actual or presumed sexual/affectional orientation or preference, gender identity and/or status 1. Hate crimes are also committed based on race, religion, disability, ethnicity and national origin 2. Hate crimes may include property crimes or physical violence resulting in injury B. Hate crimes often occur as a result of prejudice and ignorance 1. A lack of understanding about differences among people and their traditions contributes to fear and intolerance 2. The purveyors of hate use explosives, arson, weapons, vandalism, physical violence, and verbal threats of violence to instill fear in their victims V. Some things you can do if you are a victim of hate crimes A. At this stage, your help and cooperation is vital in combating this form of criminal activity 1. Record all relevant information regarding the incident (name and description of those responsible, when and where the incident occurred 2. In cases where there is graffiti in public view, ensure that the police attend or a photograph has been taken before removing the messages B. Combating hate crime effectively requires a high level of police and community interaction, as well as citizen involvement 1. Do not attempt to confront the suspect, If the suspect is in the area 2. Call the police and seek assistance VI. Hate crimes have an effect on both the immediate target and the communities of which the individuals are a member, which differentiate them from other crimes. Hate crimes are criminal acts against a person or property in which the perpetrator chooses the victim because of the victim’s real or perceived race, religion, gender, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Hate crimes affect entire communities, not just the victim. For this reason, many states have adopted hate crimes laws that call for more severe penalties when crimes are determined to be motivated by hate.