Bias-Motivated Homicides: Toward a New Typology

Author

Lindsey Sank Davis, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkFollow

Date of Degree

9-2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Program

Psychology

Advisor

Louis B. Schlesinger

Committee Members

Kevin L. Nadal

Chitra Raghavan

Ernest Drucker

Sarah Craun

Subject Categories

Clinical Psychology | Criminal Law | Criminology | Gender and Sexuality | Law and Psychology | Law and Race | Personality and Social Contexts | Public Policy | Race and Ethnicity | Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance | Social Psychology

Keywords

Hate Crime, Homicide, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Intersectionality, Racism

Abstract

Despite significant progress towards equal protection under the law for women, LGBT individuals, and people of color in the United States, hate crime remains a pervasive problem, and rates appear to have increased in recent years. Bias-motivated homicide – arguably the most serious form of hate crime – is statistically rare but may have far-reaching consequences for marginalized communities. Data from the Uniform Crime Reports and the National Crime Victimization Survey have suggested that, on average, fewer than 10 bias-motivated homicides occur in the United States per year; however, data from open sources indicate that the rate of bias-motivated homicide is much higher when utilizing different criteria. In addition to this lack of clarity about prevalence, the dynamics of bias-motivated homicide remain understudied. The present study explores a non-random U.S. sample of 58 closed, adjudicated case files provided by the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit for research purposes. The utility of the leading hate crime typology by McDevitt, Levin, and Bennett (2002) is examined by applying the typology to this sample of bias-motivated homicides, and interrater reliability of this typology is considered. To address weaknesses in the typology, this study explores observable expressive and instrumental crime scene behaviors and their relationship to victim identity group membership, provocation, and victim-offender relationship. Results provide preliminary support for a bias-motivated homicide typology based on victim identity and victim-offender interaction preceding the offense. Implications for prevention, offender rehabilitation, and law enforcement are discussed.

Recommended Citation

Davis, Lindsey Sank, "Bias-Motivated Homicides: Toward a New Typology" (2018). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2813