| The integration of diversity in the states has sparked the development of various criminal sanctions to punish "hate crimes" against different races, religions, sexual orientations, ethnicity/national origins, disabilities, and genders. We developed a causal model (LISREL) of the factors correlating to state legislation approaches to hate crimes (N = 50), including three principal influences: (1) political ideology; (2) the socioeconomic conditions of the state; and (3) the problem context of crime and diversity within the state. Our findings and discussion may be of further utility in predicting future instances and growth of hate crime legislation in the states. |
Updated 05/20/2006