NCJ Number
157551
Journal
Prosecutor Volume: 29 Issue: 4 Dated: (July/August 1995) Pages: 26,28-29
Date Published
1995
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The incidence of hate crimes in Maricopa County, Arizona, has significantly increased in recent years, from 48 hate crimes reported in 1991 to 208 hate crimes reported in 1993.
Abstract
Hate crime victims in Maricopa County in 1993 were predominantly individuals (88 percent), followed by businesses (4 percent) and religious institutions (4 percent). Antiblack was the primary motivation for hate crimes (41 percent), followed by antiwhite (14 percent), anti-Jewish (11 percent), anti-Hispanic (8 percent), and anti-male homosexual (8 percent). The most frequent offenses involved in hate crimes included threats and intimidation, assault, and criminal damage. In 1994, Maricopa County's attorney announced a new emphasis in the prosecution of hate crimes. This new emphasis translated into a separate hate crimes prosecution unit staffed by an experienced prosecutor and investigator, a hate crimes hotline, a community-based task force, and lobbying of State legislators to increase penalties for hate crimes. A case example involving a hate crime committed by a juvenile in Maricopa County is included. 5 endnotes