NCJ Number
165537
Date Published
1996
Length
19 pages
Annotation
A community forum held in Cleveland, Miss. in July 1996 examined arson against black churches in Mississippi; discussed perceptions of race relations; and assessed the investigative procedures of Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials.
Abstract
Seven African American churches in Mississippi have experienced arson between January 1995 and June 1996. Mississippi does not have a State hate crimes act, but it does have a penalty enhancement law enacted in 1994 for felonies or misdemeanors committed because of the race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, national origin, or gender of the victim. The State has no human relations or human rights commission or agency. Topics discussed at the forum included vandalism and other crimes committed in connection with the arson, the role of the National Arson Task Force, the characteristics of hate crimes and their perpetrators, the law enforcement response to church arson, the reporting and prosecution of hate crimes, racial and ethnic tensions, and efforts to improve race relations.