What Happens When a Survivor Reports a Hate Crime or Incident?

Location

Littlefoot A Room 124A

Start Date

22-4-2023 1:00 PM

End Date

22-4-2023 2:15 PM

Publication Date

2023

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | Law | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

This paper presentation examines the experiences of individuals who reported hate crimes or incidents to organizations in Edmonton, Canada, and how those organizations responded. The reporting of hate crimes and incidents in Canada increased by 72% from 2019 to 2021 (Moreau, 2022). Research reveals the significant harm caused by experiencing hate crimes and incidents for survivors of hate crimes and incidents and their communities. While underreporting of hate crimes and incidents is also well documented in research, what is less understood are the experiences of survivors who report hate crimes and incidents to organizations. Through Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), we sought to understand individuals’ experiences reporting hate crimes and incidents to organizations in Edmonton, Alberta. Eighteen people who had reported hate crimes and incidents to organizations in Edmonton over the past five years participated in 20 semi-structured interviews during this qualitative descriptive study. They shared several insights. Firstly, how organizations respond to reports of hate crimes and incidents does not reliably meet the needs of people victimized by these occurrences and can significantly impact survivors. Secondly, understandings and experiences of hate crimes and incidents and how organizations respond to them are based in lived experiences of historical and ongoing systemic and societal discrimination. Thirdly, interpersonal relationships, existing knowledge and beliefs, and previous experiences influence people’s choices to report a hate crime or incident. These insights have implications for organizations and governments supporting survivors of hate crimes and incidents. Timely, consistent, victim-centred, and evidence-based services that address systemic gaps must be a priority.

Description Format

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Full Text of Presentation

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Media Format

flash_audio

Session Title

The Experience of Hate Crime Survivors and the Ethics of Using Formers in Countering Extremism

Type

Panel

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Apr 22nd, 1:00 PM Apr 22nd, 2:15 PM

What Happens When a Survivor Reports a Hate Crime or Incident?

Littlefoot A Room 124A

This paper presentation examines the experiences of individuals who reported hate crimes or incidents to organizations in Edmonton, Canada, and how those organizations responded. The reporting of hate crimes and incidents in Canada increased by 72% from 2019 to 2021 (Moreau, 2022). Research reveals the significant harm caused by experiencing hate crimes and incidents for survivors of hate crimes and incidents and their communities. While underreporting of hate crimes and incidents is also well documented in research, what is less understood are the experiences of survivors who report hate crimes and incidents to organizations. Through Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), we sought to understand individuals’ experiences reporting hate crimes and incidents to organizations in Edmonton, Alberta. Eighteen people who had reported hate crimes and incidents to organizations in Edmonton over the past five years participated in 20 semi-structured interviews during this qualitative descriptive study. They shared several insights. Firstly, how organizations respond to reports of hate crimes and incidents does not reliably meet the needs of people victimized by these occurrences and can significantly impact survivors. Secondly, understandings and experiences of hate crimes and incidents and how organizations respond to them are based in lived experiences of historical and ongoing systemic and societal discrimination. Thirdly, interpersonal relationships, existing knowledge and beliefs, and previous experiences influence people’s choices to report a hate crime or incident. These insights have implications for organizations and governments supporting survivors of hate crimes and incidents. Timely, consistent, victim-centred, and evidence-based services that address systemic gaps must be a priority.