AAUW believes that hate crimes are serious, well-documented acts of violence that remain inadequately prosecuted and recognized. Despite expected opposition from the new Bush administration, results of the 2000 elections indicate greater congressional support for hate crimes prevention in the 107th Congress. It is expected that proponents of stronger hate crimes prevention laws will again offer legislation early in the first session. AAUW and other civil rights organizations, along with supportive MCs, will lead the charge to pass comprehensive hate crimes prevention legislation so that every American can live in an environment free of the terror brought on by hate violence. Across the United States, women are targets of hate crimes every day.
Hate crimes have a chilling effect on every woman s life.
And federal law does not cover crimes motivated by bias based upon sex, sexual orientation and disability. Women charging state and local authorities with failure or refusal to enforce the law, especially restraining orders, reportedly make up the largest number of complaints received by the Office of Violence Against Women at the Justice Department. Additionally, the office has received complaints alleging that some local law enforcement personnel have covered up hate crimes against women. Many times local law enforcement lack adequate resources to investigate and successfully prosecute criminals. Expanding the federal hate crimes statute would improve access to federal resources to assist local and state law enforcement officials in better investigating and prosecuting biasrelated crimes.