Investigating hate crimes: Case characteristics and law enforcement responses

The apparent substantial increase in hate crime during the 1980s has led to two responses; legislation to expand the scope of the law and severity of punishment for such offenses, and police-initiated efforts to focus attention on and more fully investigate such crimes. This paper explores the characteristics of hate crimes in two jurisdictions, New York City and Baltimore County, Maryland, and the responses of the police. Data come from case records of the universe of hate crimes and from a sample of comparison crimes matched on the basis of criminal offense, date, and precinct. In New York City, bias crimes are investigated by a specialized detective unit and are far more likely than comparison crimes to result in the arrest of one or more perpetrators. In Baltimore County, patrol officers conduct follow-up investigations of bias crimes and emphasize victim support as an extension of the police department's community-oriented policing policy. Bias crimes in both jurisdictions differ from similar offenses not involving bias as well as from the public image of such offenses. The paper also points to the effects and limitations of special police efforts to address bias crimes.