Hate Crimes Against Homelessness
Katiya Mountcastle
February 14, 2012
Criminal Justice
Frank Plunkett
HATE CRIMES AGAINST THE HOMELESS
In the past twelve years (1999-2010), the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) has documented one thousand, one hundred eighty-four acts of violence against homeless individuals by housed perpetrators. These crimes are believed to be motivated by the perpetrators’ bias against homeless individuals or their ability to target homeless people with relative ease. The documented violence includes everything from murder to beatings, rapes, and setting people on fire. Hate Crimes against the Homeless: Violence Hidden in Plain View is the twelfth annual report documenting violence against homeless persons.
The violence continues, and with twenty-four known deaths, 2010 ranks in the top-five deadliest years for attacks on homeless people in a decade, and with one hundred thirteen attacks, ranks as the fourth most violent year since NCH began tracking the violence in 1999. NCH has found startling data in the number and severity of attacks. However, the reports also acknowledge that since the homeless community is treated …show more content…
· 312 homeless individuals lost their lives as a result of the attacks Reported violence has occurred in 47 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC. Data also suggests that the perpetrators of these attacks tend to be young men and teenage boys. In the twelve year history of our hate crime reports, the vast majority of the attacks against homeless people have been committed by youth as young as nine years old.
Hate crimes occur in jurisdictions nationwide. In some communities, however, they are more prevalent than others. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the law enforcement community became more keenly attuned to the reality of hate-induced crimes and their impact on victims and
February 14, 2012
Criminal Justice
Frank Plunkett
HATE CRIMES AGAINST THE HOMELESS
In the past twelve years (1999-2010), the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) has documented one thousand, one hundred eighty-four acts of violence against homeless individuals by housed perpetrators. These crimes are believed to be motivated by the perpetrators’ bias against homeless individuals or their ability to target homeless people with relative ease. The documented violence includes everything from murder to beatings, rapes, and setting people on fire. Hate Crimes against the Homeless: Violence Hidden in Plain View is the twelfth annual report documenting violence against homeless persons.
The violence continues, and with twenty-four known deaths, 2010 ranks in the top-five deadliest years for attacks on homeless people in a decade, and with one hundred thirteen attacks, ranks as the fourth most violent year since NCH began tracking the violence in 1999. NCH has found startling data in the number and severity of attacks. However, the reports also acknowledge that since the homeless community is treated …show more content…
· 312 homeless individuals lost their lives as a result of the attacks Reported violence has occurred in 47 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC. Data also suggests that the perpetrators of these attacks tend to be young men and teenage boys. In the twelve year history of our hate crime reports, the vast majority of the attacks against homeless people have been committed by youth as young as nine years old.
Hate crimes occur in jurisdictions nationwide. In some communities, however, they are more prevalent than others. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the law enforcement community became more keenly attuned to the reality of hate-induced crimes and their impact on victims and