The Impact of Racial Slurs and Racism on the Perceptions and Punishment of Violent Crime

Abstract

When a crime is committed by an individual of one race against an individual of another race, there is the possibility that the crime is a hate crime. Legislation often mandates harsher penalties for perpetrators convicted of crimes determined to be hate crimes, yet this determination is difficult to make. This study used vignettes of violent crimes to examine how the races of the perpetrators and victims, the severity of the assault, and the use of racial slurs by the perpetrators would affect perceptions of the crimes as "hate crimes," victim blaming, and sentencing recommendations. Results showed that each of these factors affected participants' perceptions and punishments of violent crime. Participants' levels of racism were an additional factor. These results contribute to the understanding of how crimes in which the perpetrator's and victim's races differ are perceived.

Political Identity, Type of Victim, and Hate Crime‐Related Beliefs as Predictors of Views Concerning Hate Crime Penalty Enhancement Laws

“…One of four common oppositions to hate crime laws is partially characterized by lack of support for protecting various minority groups (e.g., individuals with disabilities, transgender persons) (Cabeldue et al, in press). In the context of race, jurors recommend harsher sentences for a crime committed by a Caucasian against an African American than when the same crime is committed by an African American against a Caucasian (Saucier, Hockett, & Wallenberg, 2008;Saucier, Hockett, Zanotti, & Heffel, 2010). Similarly, perpetrators of hate crimes committed against LGB victims are punished more severely and blamed more than other types of offenders (e.g., Cramer, Chandler, & Wakeman, 2010;Cramer, Wakeman, Chandler, Mohr, & Griffin, 2013).…”

Negative emotions versus target descriptions: Examining perceptions of racial slurs as expressive and descriptive

“…Intent of the perpetrator has also been linked to individuals’ perceptions of offensiveness (Cushman, 2008; Pizarro, Uhlmann, & Salovey, 2003; Woolfolk, Doris, & Darley, 2006). The intent of the perpetrator is situationally dependent, and the perception of a perpetrator’s intent involving the use of racial slurs has been linked to the punishment of violent crimes (Saucier, Hockett, & Wallenberg, 2008). Thus, the extent to which one uses a racial slur to express contempt toward the target, rather than to describe the target, may be situationally dependent.…”

Changing perceptions in the justification of the use of the “N” word through community service work experiences: Offensive comments or terms of endearment?

“…Perhaps more importantly, recent research suggests that the context of language and how languages are used can enhance, improve, or seriously deteriorate relationships among interethnic groups (Saucier, Hockett, & Wallenberg, 2008). Language used in smaller ethnic minority groups (i.e., enclaves) may influence how members relate and communicate with and among each other (Bond, 1983;Brewer & Kramer, 1984).…”