Project

There are plenty of research articles and publications that showcase the hate crime analysis. One significant research that analyses the hate-crime to hate-group correlation is Mapping Crime – Hate Crimes and Hate Groups in the USA: A Spatial Analysis with gridded data by M Jendryke and S.C McClure which was published in 2019. I would like to use their statistical approach to answer my questions. Apart from that, several news articles concentrate on hate crimes, particularly focusing on hate groups. But most of all the researches are solely based on a statistical approach, which shows cases tabular contents. So in this project, I would like to enhance this statistical study by visualizing the final output, which is in a publicly accessible medium.

What is Hate Crime?

The term "hate" in the context of hate crime laws can be misleading. It does not refer to emotions like rage, anger, or general dislike. Instead, it signifies bias against individuals or groups based on specific legally defined characteristics. The "crime" in hate crimes typically involves acts of violence, such as assault, murder, arson, vandalism, or threats to carry out these offenses. It can also include inspiring or encouraging someone else to commit these acts, even if the crime is not ultimately carried out. Under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, people cannot be prosecuted simply for their beliefs. People may be offended or upset about beliefs that are untrue or based upon false stereotypes, but it is not a crime to express offensive beliefs or to join with others who share such views. However, the First Amendment does not protect against committing a crime, just because the conduct is rooted in philosophical beliefs. Hate crimes leave a deeper impact than most other crimes. They don’t just harm the immediate victims—they send ripples through families, communities, and sometimes even the entire nation. The effects of these crimes extend far beyond the individuals targeted, creating fear and insecurity for others who share their identity. One major challenge in addressing hate crimes is the Hate Crimes Reporting Gap, the significant difference between the number of hate crimes that occur and those that are reported to law enforcement. Reporting these crimes is important, not just to support victims and give them justice but also to show that such acts will not be tolerated. When hate crimes are reported, communities and law enforcement gain a clearer understanding of the problem’s scale, enabling them to allocate resources effectively and take steps to prevent future attacks driven by bias and hate.