Hate Crimes & America’s Youth: Examining Occurrences On and Off School & University Campuses

• In Event: Hate Crime Victimization: Comparative Perspectives

Abstract

Media coverage detailing hate crimes and acts of bullying taking place on America’s middle and high school and university campuses have seemingly increased over the past several years. Reports of hate crimes motivated by racial or sexual orientation bias are undoubtedly disturbing, especially among America’s young adult population. Yet, beyond the intensifying media spotlight, little is known about how these acts of violence and hatred compare to hate crimes committed outside of America’s educational spaces. Our research uses data that covers ten years (2000 - 2009) of officially reported hate crimes committed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to explore variation in hate crimes reported within educational and non-educational spaces. We examine particularly the differences in offense types and who are the primary targets of hate crimes motivated by race and sexual orientation.

Authors

• Alex Wagner, Fisher College

• Melissa Barnett, Harvard University

• Casey Hatchett, Fisher College