NCJ Number
155369
Date Published
1995
Length
44 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes data for 1988-93 regarding alleged violations of Pennsylvania's Ethnic Intimidation Law, which took effect in 1982 and enhances the punishment for committing certain criminal offenses if motivated by malicious intent toward the race, color, religion, or national origin of the victim or victim group.
Abstract
The data came from police agencies in the State. Results revealed that the number of hate crimes increased 130 percent during the study period, from 181 in fiscal year 1988-89 to 417 in fiscal year 1992-93. Forty-seven of the State's 67 counties reported hate crimes. The largest number occurred in the metropolitan and suburban areas of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Thirty-seven percent of the 1,612 victims were female and 63 percent were male. Forty-six percent were black, 8 percent were Hispanic, 6 percent were Jewish, and 4 percent were Asian. Thirty-seven percent of the victims were between 11 and 20 years old. Sixty-three percent of the known offenders were white. The most common hate crimes were assault, vandalism, harassment, and terrorist threats. Tables and appended tables and background information