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Overview
"Hate crime" is a modern name for a criminal act done purely out of hostility towards certain people, groups, or organizations. Such crimes can be directed toward racial minorities, homosexuals, women, politicians, religious groups, companies, government agencies, and even entire nations. We think of crime as something committed for money or possessions, but hate crimes involve emotions. This makes the perpetrators especially dangerous, because any member of a targeted group can become a victim. Americans have reacted strongly to fight these crimes, with cities forming hate-crime prevention groups and Congress introducing a Hate Crime Prevention Act. This book traces the history of hate crimes, from the persecution of Native Americans, to modern cases, like the Oklahoma City bombing and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which was aimed at all Americans. It examines the main categories of religious, political, social, sexual, and racial hate crimes. Hate Crimes shows the roles played today by Internet sites, e-mails, hate music, and hate mail. It looks at the types of people who commit such acts and the different groups that are the objects of their hostility. This book also examines hate crime laws and the organizations and federal agencies working to prevent these senseless crimes.Editorials
VOYA
The twenty stand-alone volumes of the "Crime and Detection" series have much to recommend them. The topics, such as domestic violence, government intelligence agencies, international terrorism, and forensics, comprise today's headlines. The three volumes reviewed here are attractive and filled with compelling photographs related to the subject at hand. The text, appropriate for middle school and early junior high students, does not condescend or sugarcoat the information. Rather, each volume presents in clear, simple language, information about tough, often grisly topics. In Cyber Crime, Grant-Adamson focuses on the security compromises and economic damage that hackers wreak on society. Several notorious hackers are featured, as are the latest efforts being taken to stay one step ahead of the current crop of techno-miscreants. The Hate Crimes volume is a sobering view of the history of attacks fueled by rage against religion, sexual orientation, race, or politics. Photographs of Matthew Shepard, mourners of Columbine, and of course, September 11 are some of the powerful portraits of the devastation caused by unchecked hatred. Forensic Science is a natural draw for CSI and Court TV fans. Innes does not flinch in his descriptions of the meticulous science of investigating gruesome clues to solve violent crimes. The in-your-face photographs include an x-ray of a bullet lodged in a skull, the bloodied bodies of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, and gory footprints at a murder scene. The challenge of this worthwhile series is sloppy editing. In Cyber Crime, confusing language muddies an analysis of internal versus external hacking statistics. In Hate Crimes, Wright describes three hate-relatedkillings and then writes, "Incidents that are more serious have occurred" when clearly he meant to say, "less serious" to describe attacks that damage property. Forensic Science also could have benefited from a more critical eye. The index to that volume is mislabeled as glossary. Still, the overall content of each volume is strong enough to warrant serious consideration of this modestly priced series. Glossary. Index. Photos. Charts. Further Reading. Chronology. VOYA Codes: 3Q 4P M J (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2003, Mason Crest, 96p. PLB AndersenBook Details
Published
June 8, 2026
Publisher
Mason Crest Publishers
Pages
96
Format
Binding
ISBN
9781590843796