The Hate Crimes Debate in Utah
Abstract
A “hate crime” is any criminal behavior in which a person or property is victimized, in whole or in part, solely because of the offender’s bias against the victim’s race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental or physical), gender, age, or sexual orientation (FBI, Hate Crime Statistics 2000, 1). As of 2000, Utah had a higher percentage of hate crimes in several categories compared to the national average, including race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and disability. The federal government still does not have an official hate crimes statute, and Utah’s current law is considered by many to be too weak to be effective. Efforts to modify the law have been frustrated by several emotionally charged factors, including disagreement on the inclusion of language regarding sexual orientation.Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
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