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Hate Crimes Statutes: A Response to Anti-Semitism, Vandalism and Violent Bigotry: 1990 Supplement

NCJ Number
123308
Date Published
1990
Length
42 pages
Annotation
This supplement updates a 1988 report by the Anti-Defamation League that contained a model hate crimes statute and a review of the hate crimes statutes in the States.
Abstract
The model statute, which is appended to this supplement, includes provisions regarding institutional vandalism, ethnic intimidation, civil action for victims, parental liability, and bias crime training and reporting. The 1988 report indicates 17 States had legislation based on or similar to the model statute. The 1990 supplement notes that several States have enacted new forms of hate crimes legislation; four States adopted statutes based on or similar to the model. The supplement also reports progress at the Federal level, as Congress has now passed a religious vandalism statute; a Federal hate crimes statistics act has passed the House of Representatives and is pending in the Senate. Although four more States have enacted data-collection statutes since the 1988 report, the majority of States still do not have such legislation. Both local and national responses to bias crimes continue to be hampered by inadequate data regarding the number, location, and types of bias crimes. Such data could also assist in assessing the effectiveness of relevant legislation. Appended model legislation, chart and compilation of State statutes, and Federal legislation.