Part 1 is an introduction that offers a comparison of historic and modern-era hate crimes. In part 2 on hate crime laws, the authors detail legal developments related to hate crime. The readings collectively describe some of the complexities associated with legislation and judicial interpretations of hate crime laws. Part 3 discusses the complex public policy issues raised in creating laws that define what constitutes a hate crime and demonstrates that the creation and implementation of public policies reflect the influence of political and practical considerations. The readings in the next section examine the perpetrators of hate crimes and why hate crimes are committed using diverse theoretical perspectives and a wide range of methods. Part 5 examines and discusses organized hate groups and the central role they play in extremism. This is followed by a section of readings that document both historical and contemporary examples of the ways in which members of targeted groups have been victimized by hate crimes, as well as the social processes by which people come to be characterized as “others” outside the mainstream of society. Part 7 examines different strategies for fighting hate through changing attitudes which serve as precursors to hate crimes and respond to the emotional needs of victims when dealing with the aftermath of hate crimes. Lastly, part 8 presents a variety of international perspectives on the social and legal issues involved in defining, preventing, and sanctioning hate crime. They illuminate the American experience with hate crimes by describing the experiences of other countries in ways that provide instructive comparisons. As an emerging domain of law, the field of hate crime is changing rapidly; staying current with the wide-ranging social and legal aspects of hate crimes is essential. Tables, references, author and subject indexes