From Detecting to Prosecution Hate Crimes Across Local and Federal U.S. Jurisdictions

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

This panel highlights the outcomes of three research projects on hate crimes, funded by NIJ, which employ diverse methodologies across different jurisdictions. Following a discussion on the challenges faced by district attorneys in detecting and prosecuting hate crimes, the session will delve into an examination of sentencing variations in Federal hate crime cases. Subsequently, it will explore patterns of offending and offenders, evaluating the factors that differentiate repeat bias victimization from non-bias victimization. Finally, a former hate crime prosecutor will share insights into the challenges associated with determining and processing hate crimes, alongside opportunities for crime prevention.

Sub Unit

• Area III. Types of Offending / 21. Hate Crime

Individual Presentations

• Managing Tensions: How American District Attorneys View Their Role in Solving the Hate Crime Dilemma - Besiki Luka Kutateladze, Florida International University; Melba Pearson, Florida International University; Neal Palmer, CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance

• Prosecuting Hate: An Empirical Analysis of Sentencing Disparities in Federal Hate Crime Cases - Michael Jensen, University of Maryland, College Park

• Understanding the Mechanisms that Distinguish Repeat Bias Victimization from Non-Bias Victimization - Carlos Cuevas, Northeastern University

Chair

• Kaitlyn Sill, National Institute of Justice

Discussant

• Melba Pearson, Florida International University