UCLA Project for the Psychological Study of Hate Violence and Pathological Bias
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The Hate Crime Knowledge Test: "What do you know about hate crimes?"
1. Only crimes motivated by race or sexual orientation are classified as a hate crime.
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'false.' California includes categories for disability, gender, religion, for example, under its hate crime law. Please see 'What is a Hate Crime.
What is a Hate Crime?
;
2. If someone is assaulted because she is a lesbian, is this a hate crime?
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'uncertain.' Not enough information is provided to determine if this is a hate crime. Please see 'What is a Hate Crime
What is a Hate Crime?
;
3. More than 70% of hate crimes are perpetrated by persons under 18 years of age.
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'false.' Most criminologists think this is true, but evidence is varied both nationally and within the state of California. A study by Dunbar, Quinones, and Crevecoeur (2005) found that '84% of the offender sample where adults at the time the crime was committed.' See 'Assessment of Hate Crime Offenders: The Role of Bias Intent in Examining Violence Risk."
Violence Risk Assessment of Hate Crime Offenders
4. A perpetrator of a crime selects only victims who are over the age of 65 years of age. Is this a hate crime?
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'uncertain.' It is unclear whether the motivation behind the criminal acts is bias towards the elderly. It may be the case that the perpetrator is selecting victims over the age of 65 because they are less able to defend themselves.
5. The majority of hate crimes are perpetrated by members of hate groups like the skin heads. Is this true?
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'false.' Research on hate crime offenders has not supported the contention that most offenders are members of hate groups. Less than five percent of hate crime offenders perpetrating crimes in Los Angeles between 1994 and 1995 were members of organized hate groups (Dunbar, 1997).
6. A man is washing his car, and a group of teens in a passing car yell out "Faggot." Is this a hate crime?
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'false.' This is not considered a hate crime because no crime has occurred. Although there is bias present, an actual criminal offense motivated by bias must be committed in order to be classified as a hate crime. Please see 'What is a Hate Crime'”
What is a Hate Crime?
7. At a high school, two girls get into a fistfight. As the fight continues, a racial slur is shouted by one of the girls. Is this a hate crime?
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'true.' This scenario contains both a bias motivation (the racial slur) and a criminal act (the fistfight) and thus can most likely be classified as a hate crime. Please see 'What is a Hate Crime'”
What is a Hate Crime?
8. You are riding in a car with your best friend, and someone cuts you off. Your friend says "stupid oriental," under his breath. Is this a hate crime?
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is “false.” This is not considered a hate crime because no crime has occurred. Although the friend used biased language, he has not committed a crime. Please see 'What is a Hate Crime'”
What is a Hate Crime?
9. Nearly one-half of all hate crimes are perpetrated by persons with severe psychiatric problems.
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'false.' Research on hate crime offenders does not support the conclusion that nearly one-half of all hate crimes are perpetrated by persons with severe psychiatric problems."
10. Two men meet a gay man in a restaurant, they befriend him and return to his apartment, where they then tie him up and beat him. Is this a hate crime?
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'uncertain.' It is unclear whether the perpetrators of this crime were motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation or something else."
11. You overhear a group of black males yelling at a white male who is walking past them. They are yelling, "you devil" and "honky." Is this a hate crime?
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'false.' Although there is bias present in this scenario, no criminal act has been committed. It does not meet the criteria for a hate crime. Please see 'What is a Hate Crime'”
What is a Hate Crime?
12. A group of teens paint a swastika on a city street, is this a hate crime?
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'true.' This act includes a hate symbol (swastika) and a criminal act (graffiti). This crime was most likely motivated by anti-Semitism and thus meets the criteria for a hate crime. Please see 'What is a Hate Crime'”
What is a Hate Crime?
13. All states are covered under the Federal Hate Crimes Act of 1990.
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'true.' The Federal Hate Crimes Act of 1990 requires the justice department to gather data on hate crime occurrence in all states. Please see 'What is a Hate Crime'”
What is a Hate Crime?
14. Hate crime laws exist only in the United States.
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'false.' Hate crime laws exist in many other countries."
Hate Crime Laws Internationally: Statutes Concerning Intergroup Violence
15. All crimes that are motivated by the victims' sexual orientation are protected under hate crime laws in all 50 states?
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'false.' Not all states include sexual orientation bias in their definition of a hate crime. The Anti-Defamation League’s website lists 19 states that do not include sexual orientation in their hate crime laws (www.adl.org).
16. In California, do hate-motivated crimes carry higher penalties than similar non-hate motivated crimes?
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'true.' In California, punishment for crimes motivated by hate can include increased fines or sentencing enhancements.
17. In California, can the victim of a hate crime seek financial damages from the perpetrator in civil court?
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'true.' Under California law, victims of hate crime can seek financial damages from the perpetrator in civil court. According a report by California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, “California’s Bane Civil Rights Act and Ralph Civil Rights Act allows victims of hate crimes and hate incidents to obtain restraining orders against and recover monetary compensation from perpetrators whom they can identify.
Reporting Hate Crimes
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18. States can provide penalties for hate crimes beyond those included under the federal hate crime laws.
True
False
Uncertain
"The best answer is 'true.' In California, sentencing enhancements or increased fines can be added to crimes determined to be bias motivated."
19. Hate crime laws apply only to cases of physical violence.
True
False
Uncertain
"The best answer is 'false.' Hate crime laws can apply to non-physically violent criminal act that are bias-motivated. Examples of non-physical hate crimes include bias motivated vandalism, graffiti, and criminal threats."
20. A person can only be charged with a hate crime if they have simultaneously committed another (separate) criminal offense.
True
False
Uncertain
The best answer is 'true.' By definition, a hate crime includes both bias motivation and a criminal act. The use of hate speech is not considered a hate crime unless a criminal offense has also occurred. Please see 'What is a Hate Crime'”
What is a Hate Crime?
21. Federal hate crime laws apply to all persons within the U.S.
True
False
Uncertain
"The best answer is “true.” Federal hate crime laws do apply to all persons within the United States. Please see 'What is a Hate Crime'”
What is a Hate Crime?
Note: Answers are based on California legislation.