Addressing Hate Crime in the 21st Century: Trends, Threats, and Opportunities for Intervention

Hate crimes, often referred to as bias-motivated crimes, have garnered greater public attention and concern as political rhetoric in the United States and internationally has promoted the exclusion of people based on their group identity. This review examines what we know about the trends in hate crime behavior and the legal responses to this problem across four main domains. First, we describe the legal framework and recent attempts to expand hate crime protections beyond historically disenfranchised groups. Second, we examine recent trends and patterns of hate crime victimization. Third, we review what is known about those who perpetrate hate crimes and those who experience hate crime victimization. Finally, we examine the efficacy of efforts to respond to and prevent hate crime. This review examines a wide range of bias-motivated harms and suggests how future research and policy can be more inclusive of victimization extending beyond traditionally understood hate crimes.

Automated summary

Hate crimes and the legal responses to them have become a major concern due to the exclusion of certain groups based on their identity. This review examines the legal framework and attempts to expand hate crime protections, recent trends in hate crime victimization, the characteristics of perpetrators and victims, and the efficacy of efforts to respond to and prevent hate crimes. It suggests that future research and policy should be more inclusive of victimization that extends beyond traditional hate crimes.