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The perpetrators of bias crimes against immigrants

Author(s): Witold Klaus
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Criminal Law
Published by: Polskie Towarzystwo Kryminologiczne im. prof. Stanisława Batawii
Keywords: bias crimes; biased violence; violence against immigrants; perpetrators of bias crimes

Summary/Abstract: The level of biases and xenophobic attitudes in a society is influenced mostly by the fear towards immigrants and their influx instead of the real number of immigrants residing in a particular country. That’s why the level of bias towards the Others is much higher in homogeneous societies. The results of Polish opinion polls research on bias attitudes of our society towards Muslims orimmigrants echo these findings. In the criminological research we find strong relations between xenophobic attitudes of the family of the perpetrator and acts of bias violence committed by the latter. Biased crimes are usually committed by young males (under 25 years old), and the main 78 motivation of their actions is either thrill (usually connected with the consumption of alcohol) or specifically understood defence of their community from the Others and their presence. An important factor of the perpetrators’ behaviour is also the conviction that no one will stand up for the victims, neither the police, nor the society.

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 23
  • Page Range: 57-78
  • Page Count: 22
  • Language: Polish