Public Perceptions of Hate Crimes: A Seriousness Perceptions Study in Israel

• In Event: Perceived Crime Seriousness and Perceptions of Blame

Abstract

Hate crimes are popularly conceived of as crimes motivated by racial enmity and prejudice. The aim of the present study was to examine the perceptions of Israeli respondents with regard to the seriousness of hate crimes committed against foreign workers. Based on the crime seriousness literature, two hypotheses were posited: one, similar rankings of offenses, but second, significantly different seriousness values (ratings), would be obtained for offenses committed against native-born citizens and foreign workers. The present study was conducted in Israel where a large group of foreign workers arrived during the 1990s. and were recruited and incorporated into the Israeli labor market.

Author

• Sergio Herzog, Safed College, Safed, Israel