Information on Hate Crimes Involving Teens

By Strom, K.J

Introduction 

Every year, thousands of Americans come under attack because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, religion, or a disability.

These attacks can range from name-calling, offensive jokes, and social exclusion to life-threatening acts of violence. When these attacks cross the line into criminal activity, they are considered to be hate crimes.

Hate crimes can take many forms:

• A black teenager is beaten up by white teenagers while driving through a suburb.
• Swastikas are painted on a synagogue.
• A gay man is killed and another is injured when they are attacked by a group of 10 young men outside a gay bar.
• A bomb threat is called in to a local Islamic center, and racial epithets are shouted at children wearing traditional Arab clothing.

When a hate crime occurs, its effects can reverberate throughout the entire community.

Hate crimes affect not only individual victims, but can also harm every other member of the group that individual represents, creating a sense of fear, vulnerability, insecurity, distrust, and outrage. They can also launch cycles of retaliation and counter-retaliation among groups.

Unfortunately, most hate crimes are committed by and against teens and young adults.

Almost two-thirds of reported attacks are committed by individuals under the age of 24. Although people of all racial and ethnic groups commit hate crimes, young white males commit most of them.¹

Most victims of violent hate crimes are also young: more than half of the victims of reported hate violence are age 24 or under, and nearly a third are under 18.² African Americans, Jews, Arab Americans and Muslims, new immigrants, lesbians, gay men, and women are some of the most frequently targeted groups.

Why do teens and young adults commit hate crimes?  

Prejudice is at the heart of all hate crimes. Although most prejudiced individuals do not commit hate crimes, prejudice is a key motivation for those who do.

The majority of people who commit hate crimes are not members of organized hate groups, although they may be influenced by their propaganda. Instead, they are individuals who believe negative stereotypes about groups and act on impulse. Their prejudice blinds them to the immorality of what they are doing.

The majority are “thrill seekers” who randomly target members of minority groups for harassment and violence. They often do this out of boredom, seeking some excitement. They may also be trying to impress their peers or prove their toughness.

Others feel that members of a group are a threat to their way of life, neighborhood, place of work, or economic well-being, and hence attack them. Their violence is meant to send a message and to spread fear and intimidation among all members of the group

A very small percentage of people who commit hate crimes believe that they are on a mission to rid the world of some perceived evil. These individuals are often psychotic, suffering from a mental illness.

But here’s some good news:

None of us are born hating people who are different from us. These attitudes are learned from parents, schools, peers, the media, and society in general. So it's possible for all of us to learn to appreciate, respect, and celebrate our differences.

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What You Can Do

Teenagers and young adults can play an important role in reducing and preventing hate violence. Consider some of the following suggestions:

• Start with yourself. Try to broaden your social circle to include others who are different from you. Be mindful of your language¾avoid stereotypical remarks and challenge those made by others. Speak out against jokes and slurs that target people or groups. Silence sends a message that you are in agreement. It is not enough to refuse to laugh.

• Read books about diverse cultures, traditions, and lifestyles in our society. Learning about others’ cultures and traditions can help you be more compassionate and understanding. It can also help you better understand points of view that are different from your own.

• Talk with your friends, parents, and school staff about how you and your classmates can respond to hateful attitudes and behaviors. Newspapers, magazines, movies, and television shows that you've seen on these subjects can be great ways to start a discussion about hate crimes and intolerance.

• Research and find out about hate crimes that have occurred in your community and what was done to respond to them. Identify any hate groups active in your community. Then share the information, publishing an article in a school or local newspaper, or talking to community groups or groups of students.

• Join an existing group that is promoting tolerance in your school or community, or launch your own effort. Join with other students to create anti-hate policies and programs in your school. Coordinate an event that brings diverse people and groups together. Find ways to show support and solidarity for groups when one of their members is a victim of hate violence.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's National Youth Network Web site can connect you with national organizations and provide you with information and resources to take action in your community. Learn about effective programs and what other teens are doing around the nation. Find out how to plan and start a program, run a meeting, develop publications, and work with the news media.

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Helpful Links

Hate Crime Statistics, 2000
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice
This document includes national hate crime statistics collected in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program, with information about types of offenses, victims, offenders, and locations, along with some information for individual communities.

Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2001
Department of Justice and Department of Education
This report includes information about students’ reports of the use of hate-related words and the presence of hate-related graffiti at their schools.

In the Spotlight: Hate Crimes
National Criminal Justice Reference Service, Department of Justice
This site includes links to hate crime information, including statistical information, publications, programs, and other resources.

Preventing Youth Hate Crime: A Manual for Schools and Communities
Department of Education
This manual is intended to assist schools and communities to confront and eliminate harassing, intimidating, violent, and other hate-motivated behavior among young people.

Resources for Responding to Hate Crimes
Office for Victims of Crime, Department of Justice
This fact sheet includes contact information for sources that monitor hate groups’ activities, organizations that assist hate crime victims and help local communities develop appropriate responses, legal and law enforcement resources, and workplace resources.

A Teenager's Guide to... Fitting in, Getting involved, Finding yourself
Family and Youth Services Bureau, Department of Health and Human Services
When times get tough, it’s important to know there are people you can count on. The ideas in this booklet can help you learn to deal with tough times and enjoy the good times by finding the people and places that are right for you. You might find these ideas useful in your everyday life. Or read them to see if they might be helpful to a friend.

Youth in Action Bulletins
U.S. Department of Justice
These bulletins, developed by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, provide guidance for teen leaders who are developing their own violence prevention efforts.