Is this a hate crime?

[Tom]

Alright so there was a temple in New Jersey where the janitor found a bunch of encyclopedias in the parking lot laid out in the shape of a swastika. http://www.baristanet.com/2007/05/synagogue_gets_message_of_hate.php Looked like this: http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/_tootalltommy/swastika_headlineimage.jpg Is this a hate crime? I thought that for something to be a hate crime there had to be a crime. I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A GOOD THING!! but I can't say its a hate crime.

 

[MJS]

Yes, I'd say this falls into the hate crime category.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_crime

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_04/offenses_reported/hate_crime/index.html

http://www.ojp.gov/ovc/assist/nvaa2002/chapter22_1.html

 

[michaeledward]

Littering is a crime, isn't it?

One would hope that the participants would have read the encyclopedias. They might have gotten more out of it.

 

[CoryKS]

Encyclopedias? WTF? Is the price of oil driving up the cost of spray paint? I think the police are going to want to have a word with this guy.

 

[KempoGuy06]

If my understanding of a hate crime is correct then this falls under that category. I understand a crime to be any act, physical or psychological, towards someone based of gender, race, religion or sexual preference. This would be a psychological in my opinion.

B

 

[Bigshadow]

Littering is a crime, vandalism is a crime, but I don't think that is a hate crime. What's next? Thought crime? I personally think the whole "hate crime" concept is absurd! Crime is crime! Just my opinion.

 

[Ray]

Littering is a crime, vandalism is a crime, but I don't think that is a hate crime. What's next? Thought crime? I personally think the whole "hate crime" concept is absurd! Crime is crime! Just my opinion.

I agree with you on the concept of "hate crime." I also have a problem with the concept of "hate speech." I agree with previous posters that a crime was committed.

 

[MA-Caver]

I agree with you on the concept of "hate crime." I also have a problem with the concept of "hate speech." I agree with previous posters that a crime was committed.

Agreed. It was a psychological attack.

 

[stephen]

Agreed. It was a psychological attack.

Harrassment is a crime.

But, hate crime = thought crime.

 

[Bigshadow]

But, hate crime = thought crime.

I would agree that it can be a form of thought crime.

 

[Blotan Hunka]

If Im correct, isnt a "Hate Crime" just a classification of a specific crime? For example, I spray paint your car its vandalism/criminal mischief which is a crime. If I spray paint it with racial slurs directed at you, its still criminal mischief, but because it was done based on race its now classified as a "hate crime" which can either result in a stiffer sentence locally, or turn it into a federal case.

If thats right, what is the crime committed here? If it was directed at a particular person it would be a harassment I would think, but if not I dont know....neo-nazis can walk around with them everywhere as protected speech, what is different here?

 

[Touch Of Death]

Littering is a crime, isn't it?

One would hope that the participants would have read the encyclopedias. They might have gotten more out of it.

Hate littering is a growing problem.
Sean

 

[theletch1]

If Im correct, isnt a "Hate Crime" just a classification of a specific crime? For example, I spray paint your car its vandalism/criminal mischief which is a crime. If I spray paint it with racial slurs directed at you, its still criminal mischief, but because it was done based on race its now classified as a "hate crime" which can either result in a stiffer sentence locally, or turn it into a federal case.

If thats right, what is the crime committed here? If it was directed at a particular person it would be a harassment I would think, but if not I dont know....neo-nazis can walk around with them everywhere as protected speech, what is different here?

The difference here would be that the books were displayed in the shape of a symbol designed to scare/harrass/intimidate those who attended the temple. I think it would fall into the category of hate crime even though I'm with the group that believes a crime is a crime is a crime.

 

[Blotan Hunka]

So it would be a harassment? I dont think you actually get charged with a "hate crime". Its a "crime" with a "hate motivation". But you still need a crime.

 

[Xue Sheng]

NYS view of what constitutes a hate crime
http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/legalservices/ch107_hate_crimes_2000.htm

 

[Blotan Hunka]

Thats about how I thought it went.

 

[Phoenix44]

Books arranged in the form of a swastika in the parking lot of a synagogue? Yes, I'd say it's a hate crime.

 

[Steel Tiger]

Its clearly a case of intended threat or intimidation.

I want to know why it was done with encyclopaedia. Was someone walking down the street with an armload of books and just thought, "Ah a temple, I'll just try to intimidate them with these books." Or did they come from the temple itself? If that was so then there is a case of burglary involved.

 

[JBrainard]

Don't flame me for this, but I can't help but wonder: Are all of the people on this thread who are saying "hate crime = thought crime" or "a crime is a crime," white males? If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. I've just found through personal experience that it's far harder to "walk in another's shoes" than you realize.

 

[Blotan Hunka]

Heres a good link on California hate crime law.

http://da.co.la.ca.us/hate/hcdefined.htm