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OCR Page 1 of 19WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON HATE CRIMES
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
NOVEMBER 10, 1997
Q:
What is a hate crime?
A:
As a general matter, a hate crime, also known as a bias crime, is a crime that is committed
against a person or property that is motivated, in whole or part, by the offender's bias
against the victim's race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation,
disability, or familial status. However, it is important to understand that hate crimes are
defined by various federal and state criminal statutes, and these statutory definitions differ
in their particulars from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The principal federal hate crimes
statute, for example, is currently limited to crimes committed because of the victim's race,
color, religion or national origin; it does not include crimes committed because of the
victim's gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
Q:
What policies did the President announce at the Hate Crimes Conference?
A:
The President made significant policy announcements regarding law enforcement and
prevention, including initiatives regarding FBI resources, a Justice Department-
coordinated national network to respond to hate crimes at the local level, training for law
enforcement officials, and statistical reporting. The President also announced support for
expanding the principal federal hate crimes statute to prohibit hate crimes based on
gender, sexual orientation, and disability.
Q:
What specific changes to current federal law is the President supporting?
A:
The President announced his support for legislation to expand the principal federal hate
crimes statute. This law currently prohibits hate crimes only on the basis of race, color,
religion, or national origin. The Clinton Administration's proposal would extend the law
to prohibit hate crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability. The President
has garnered bipartisan support for this plan. Senators Kennedy (D-MA) and Specter (R-
PA) are expected to introduce this legislation shortly after the Conference.
Q:
What other initiatives did the President announce at the Hate Crimes Conference?
A:
The President announced several law enforcement and educational initiatives. They are:
1.
Creation of a Network of Local Hate Crime Working Groups. The President
will announced that each U.S. Attorney will either establish a local hate crime working
group in his or her district, or if such a body already exists, actively participate in the
group. These working groups--essentially federal-state-local partnerships-- will include
representation from the U.S. Attorney's office, the FBI, state and local law enforcement,
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