Hate crime occurs when a perpetrator commits a crime to an individual due to his or her social inclination. The group of people who fall victims of hate crimes includes people of different racial groups, sexual orientations, religion, gender identity and those of different ethnic backgrounds.
Incidents of hate crimes involve any of the following acts: arson, malicious damage to property, murder, physical assault, verbal abuse among others. Hate crimes have been prevalent in America throughout its history but are currently on a downward trend. As at 2010, most acts of hate crimes targeted blacks. In 2010, the FBI recorded 8,208 hate crimes out of which were 48% related to race issues (Jacobs & Potter, 2008).
This paper seeks to compare hate crimes in the two metropolitan areas of the New York City and Los Angeles. By 2008, New York had an estimated population of over 8.3 million. On its part, the area of Los Angeles had an estimated population of ten million. Those two metropolitans are densely populated with people with different ethnical and cultural backgrounds and diverse religious beliefs. More so, income distribution in both New York and Los Angeles is largely unequal among the populations (Jacobs & Potter, 2008).
The two areas experience substantively high hate crime rates. In 2007, 727 agencies from Los Angeles participated in a hate crime survey. Out of this, only 276 agencies completed their reports. As a rule of thumb, each hate crime had to indicate the motive of the offense. In the report, 674 incidences were due to race identity, 204 incidences happened because of religious and cultural beliefs, whereas 263 incidences were due to sexual orientation. In addition, there were 3 attacks on disabled individuals and a further 253 incidences of hate crime associated with ethnicity (Behind the Numbers, n. d.).
In the New York metropolitan area, a similar survey was held and 273-law enforcement agencies participate in it. Out of this, 29 agencies reported their statistical findings. The report indicated four hundred and ninety three hate crime incidents. The report classified these offenses according to the bias motivation.
From the findings, 126 incidences were because of racial inclination, 271 due to religious and cultural beliefs, whereas 73 incidences were due to sexual orientations. In addition, there were 22 incidences based on ethnicity prejudices and 1 case involving disabled people (New York. Hate Crime Incidents, n.d.).
From the statistics above, it is evident that California recorded a much higher number of hate crime incidences as compared to Los Angeles. However, it is important to note that a smaller number of agencies participated in the study that was based in New York than those that were taken in California (Jacobs et al 2008). As well, the study fetched a smaller population in New York (8000000), compared to Los Angeles’ over 10 million population. Los Angeles reported 1409 cases in 2002.
In 2004, Los Angeles reported 1397 cases, and a further 1400 cases in 2007. This represents a stagnant growth in hate crime statistics for the Los Angeles metropolitan area. On the other hand, crime statistics from New York indicates a rise in hate crime too. The year 2008 data indicate 596 incidents as compared to 510 and 454 in 2007 and 2004 respectively (Fetzer & Fernandez-Lanier, 2009).
The two metropolitan areas indicate a considerable amount of hate crimes, which should be contained. Although the traditional form of hate crime (usually against the blacks) is declining, there are emerging trends of hate crimes targeting the “new” minority groups that are the gay and lesbian communities.
It is notable that recent developments in America have led to an average decline of this crime. The election of Barrack Obama to the United States presidency affected the way people viewed the traditional minority groups, especially the African Americans. This explains the fall in crime against the black Americans.
However, the gay and lesbian community has been under repeated attacks from the conservationists. Luckily, all of the two discussed metropolitan areas have put into place laws that prevent hate crime. One can rest assured that with the current legislation, and civil campaigns against hate crimes, the cases of hate crimes will reduce in the future.
References
Behind the Numbers: Hate Crimes Task Force Nets Results. The FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation. Web.
Fetzer, M., & Fernandez-Lanier, A. (2009). Division of Criminal Justice Services. Hate Crime in New York State 2008 Annual Report. Web.
Jacobs, J.T. & Potter, K. (2008). Hate Crimes: Criminal Law and Identity Politics. New York: Oxford University Press.
New York. Hate Crime Incidents. The FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation. Web.