Hate Crimes (Point Counterpoint)

Hate crimes are crimes that are motivated by prejudice against a person's race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender. Many people argue that these crimes should carry extra penalties because, in the words of former Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, "this conduct is thought to inflict greater individual and societal harm ... bias-motivated crimes are more likely to provoke retaliatory crimes, inflict distinct emotional harms on their victims, and incite community unrest." Opponents of hate-crime laws argue that extra penalties amount to prosecuting people for thought crimes and violate the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens. Hate Crimes examines both sides of this debate. Each book in the Point/Counterpoint series offers all the statutes, legal opinions, and studies a student needs to structure a cohesive argument on a given controversial topic. Issues are presented from multiple points of view; sidebars cite laws, opinions, and court cases to aid in critical analysis; appendices help students conduct legal research; and all sources are fully documented. Hate crimes are crimes that are motivated by hate or prejudice, whether it is based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender. Many people argue that these crimes should carry extra penalties because, in the words of former Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, "this conduct is thought to inflict greater individual and societal harm...bias-motivated crimes are more likely to provoke retaliatory crimes, inflict distinct emotional harms on their victims, and incite community unrest." Opponents of hate-crime laws argue that extra penalties amount to prosecuting people for thought crimes. Hate Crimes examines both sides of this debate. In titles that offer all of the statutes, legal opinions, and studies needed to structure a cohesive argument on a given controversial topic, issues are presented from multiple points of view, sidebars cite laws and opinions to aid in critical analysis, and paratextual questions encourage reader engagement Presents articles both supporting and opposing issues related to hate crimes in the United States, including the ethics of penalty-enhancement laws, hate crimes and sexual orientation, and the display of nooses as a hate crime