Concern over bias crimes has increased substantially over the past few decades, yet the scientific knowledge concerning the dynamics of these offenses is in its infancy. The current study examined the similarities and differences between bias assaults and conventional assaults, with a particular focus on drug or alcohol use by offenders. Other variables under consideration included demographic characteristics of victims, victim/offender relationship, location of offense, and victim injury. Two theoretical models, specialization and versatile offender, were used to examine whether prejudice or criminality is the most salient factor explaining bias assaults. Data from the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) were examined for the year 1999, which identified bias motivation for offenses across the United States and provided detailed data on features of the offense. Results of logistic regression analyses indicated many differences between bias and conventional assaults. Offenders motivated by racial and ethnic bias were more likely to be versatile rather than specialist offenders and bias offenders were more likely to have committed their crimes under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The risk of bias crime victimization was found to be similar for all racial minorities, including Blacks. The findings thus revealed that bias offenders are likely to commit a variety of crimes (versatile offenders), often under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The finding of versatility of the criminality of bias offenders has wider implications for the versatility issue apparent in criminology, a field that is becoming increasingly specialized. While there were differences between the two types of assaults, both bias and conventional assaults involved intoxicated offenders targeting men. Figure, tables, references