Bitter experience has taught us that such crimes have a special emotional and psychological impact extending beyond the individual victim. They intimidate others in the victim's community, and make them feel isolated, vulnerable and unprotected.
Hate crimes polarize communities and damage the very fabric of our society.
Although prejudice and hatred cannot be legislated out of existence, ADL is convinced that government can do more to deter and redress violence motivated by bigotry. ADL has pioneered the development and promotion of hate-crimes statutes as well as programs educating law enforcement officials and the public about the dangers of hate crimes and what can be done in response. Hate Crimes Laws Model legislation, drafted by ADL in 1981, covers all hate crimes, not just those of an anti-Semitic nature. The model calls for penalty enhancement for bias-motivated crimes. The statute complements other ADL counteraction measures focusing on media exposure, education and more effective law enforcement.