Overview
Each volume of the Facts On File Library in a Book series is carefully designed to be a first-stop research source on important current issues. Written clearly and carefully so that even the most complex aspects of the topic are easily understandable, the books give the reader the essential information to begin work, plus the research tools needed to delve more deeply into the issues. Each book includes a history of the subject, biographical information on important figures in the field, a complete annotated bibliography, and a carefully designed index-everything the researcher needs to get down to work.
A criminal offense is regarded as a hate crime when it includes the element of bias. While hate crime is not a distinct federal offense, it became an official statistical category in the United States in 1990, and in 1993 the Supreme Court approved state-level penalty-enhancement schemes for hate crimes in Wisconsin v. Mitchell. Since then, Supreme Court and state court cases have put important constitutional limits on the enforcement and prosecution of hate crimes statutes, and Congress has repeatedly debated whether to enact a federal hate-crimes law.
Do hate crimes represent acts committed against entire communities, thus justifying penalty enhancement? And if so, should hate-crimes laws protect crime victims based on their disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity? Or should the law make no distinction between bias crimes and ordinary crimes? Americans still vehemently dispute the answers. Hate Crimes, Revised Edition provides students and general readers with the resources necessary to define, understand, and research one of the most contentious topics in theUnited States today.
Synopsis
Written as a "first-stop" resource into hate crimes and relevant legislation in the United States, this volume continues in the format of the other Library in a Book series, including a historical survey of hate crimes, a chronology, description of significant court cases and legislation, short biographies of important individuals, a glossary, an annotated bibliography, and a list of relevant organizations. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Library Journal
Gr 10 Up-Series titles that capsulate information on hot topics and guide students through the beginning of the research process. Each book includes a history of the subject; information on law and court decisions related to the issue; biographical listings; a chronology; a research guide; a 75-page annotated bibliography; a list of organizations, their mailing addresses and URLs; and a variety of textual and statistical appendixes. In both volumes, the historical, legal, chronological, and biographical information is easily understood. The "How To Research" section in Juvenile Crime is less useful than its counterpart in Hate Crimes because it fails to set a clear context for the research process; it also goes into some unnecessary detail. Unlike other series on controversial topics (e.g., "Opposing Viewpoints," "Current Controversies" [both Greenhaven], and "Taking Sides" [McGraw-Hill]), these titles do not explain contrasting arguments on contentious topics; instead, they provide in-depth overviews. (Occasionally, Ferro and Streissguth list or summarize opposing points of view, but they are not discussed in detail.) Most libraries will find these titles useful.-Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.