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Similar Interpretations, Different Conclusions: The Criminalization Of Hate Speech In The West, Michael Goryelov, Wesley S. Mccann
Similar Interpretations, Different Conclusions: The Criminalization Of Hate Speech In The West, Michael Goryelov, Wesley S. Mccann
Northern Illinois University Law Review
The United States is unique internationally in that hate speech is not considered a criminal offense. Drawing from a sample of Western countries and their respective statutes, the analysis will look at different nations' interpretations of hate speech criminality. This study identifies common patterns in international criminal legal codes and compares them to U.S. jurisprudence, focusing on content neutrality and the ideological content of these laws. It was found that hate speech statutes internationally tended towards content neutrality, were structured similarly to anti-defamatory codes, and generally did not result in amendments/extensions of new regulatory laws. These findings imply a closer …
Wisconsin V. Mitchell: The End Of Hate Crimes Or Just The End Of The First Amendment, Lisa M. Stozek
Wisconsin V. Mitchell: The End Of Hate Crimes Or Just The End Of The First Amendment, Lisa M. Stozek
Northern Illinois University Law Review
This note examines Wisconsin v. Mitchell, wherein the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution does not forbid "hate crime statutes" which lengthen the sentence of a criminal defendant for committing a bias-motivated crime. The author identifies a long line of First Amendment cases that are arguably contradictory to the Court's holding and examines the potential impact the decision's limit on free expression may have on society and free speech. The author concludes that while the Court's goal of suppressing hate crimes was admirable, the decision treads dangerously close to criminalizing speech and thought.