NCJ Number
148869
Date Published
1993
Length
36 pages
Annotation
Florida recorded a 25-percent increase in the incidence of reported hate crimes in 1992, although the number of organized groups responsible for hate crimes declined significantly.
Abstract
Florida legislation recognizes the seriousness of hate crimes. The Hate Crimes Reporting Act contains provisions on the collection and dissemination of data for prejudice- motivated criminal acts and on increased penalties for hate crimes. To survey the incidence of hate crimes in 1992, data were obtained by the Florida Attorney General's Office on hate crime offense totals by motivation type, offense totals by county/agency, and offense totals by agency and motivation type. Of the 395 hate crimes reported in 1992, 62 percent were racially motivated, 12.2 percent were religiously motivated, 11.1 percent were ethnically motivated, and 14.7 percent were motivated by sexual orientation. Of the 395 hate crimes, 34.7 percent were aggravated assaults and 71 percent were crimes against persons. Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) represented 39.5 percent of all reported offenses. The most serious offense reported was robbery, the dollar amount stolen or damaged due to hate crimes totaled $134,329, and 108 arrests were made. Organized groups were responsible for only 15 percent of the reported hate crimes. Excerpts from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Hate Crime Report Manual, the hate crime statistical report form, and hate crime statutes are appended. Tables and figures