What Motivates Hate Offenders?
One study classified hate crime offenders into four categories that differ with respect to the psychological and situational factors that lead to hate crime offending (McDevitt, Levin, and Bennett, 2002). This typology is widely used by law enforcement for training officers in the investigation and identification of hate crime.
Exhibit 1. Hate Crime Offender Typology
Offender Type/Characterization | Percent of Offenders |
Thrill-seeking. Motivated by the desire for excitement. | 66 |
Defensive. Commit hate crimes to protect their neighborhood from perceived outsiders. | 25 |
Retaliatory. Acting in response to a hate crime—either real or perceived. | 8 |
Mission. So strongly committed to bigotry that they make hate a career. | 1 |
Works Cited
McDevitt, J., J. Levin, and S. Bennett (2002). "Hate Crime Offenders: An Expanded Typology (abstract)." Journal of Social Issues 58(2): 303–317, NCJ 204396.