We've been publishing a series of articles on the general topic of Hate Crimes and Assaults here on the Loper Website. As a part of this series, we are interviewing people with something to share - insight, opinion, even more questions - and will publish these interviews from time to time. The framework for the interviews is a questionnaire, but we will not slavishly force each interview to follow a prescribed format - ideas flow too freely for that.

Responses to Written Questions

Is it a good thing to make distinctions in sentencing according to the perpetrator's motive?
I think so. Our system is already set up to do this it seems to me. For example, if someone kills another person, the resulting charge is based at least in part on whether or not the prosecution considers the death to be the result of an accident or premeditated act, etc.

Do you think the 'hate crime' designation should be used to make a sentence harsher?
I would say yes, because it becomes an opportunity for the government to "send a message" that society finds the motivation or rationale behind such an act especially heinous.

Do you believe the list of victim groups should be increased? Why so?
Yes, I would be in favor of extending the list to include sexual orientation since homophobia is still so prevalent and accepted in our society.

Have you or someone close to you been the victim of bias?
Yes, several years ago a friend of a friend was assaulted because the perpetrators believed he was gay.

Most of the victims of violence I have known over the years have been victims of sexual assault -- all of whom were female. I think the pervasive cultural attitudes about women breed an environment where these types of crimes are more likely to occur.

Do you think society should deal differently with members of a hate group than with individuals? How?
I think Morris Dees has pursued a course of using the courts to financially cripple organizations such as the KKK. With limited or negligible funds, such groups won't have the resources to promote their views of hatred and violence.

When a connection between the group and the violent act can be proven, then perhaps seeking damages might deter that group or other like minded groups from condoning or inciting such behavior by their members.

Do you feel the same about bias crimes whether it is a member of a majority or a minority doing the assailing?
I don't know that I'm more sympathetic, but it's different when a group has the weight of society's intolerance backing them in their actions than when [a group is] reacting to that intolerance.

How would you describe the recent incidents in Charlottesville?
I think probably a combination of "wilding" and the area's long standing "town vs. gown" antagonism.

Do you know any details about these assaults that have not been written about, but ought to be known?
I did speak with someone who is on staff at CHS shortly after the incidents and this person claimed that several of the CHS students who were involved were young people admired by many of their cohorts and their actions came as quite a blow-tarnishing their images.

Do you think that the criminal justice system in Charlottesville is quicker to bring charges against blacks than against whites?
This is complicated. I think in the past that blacks have been "targeted" more, in … the nature of the crime that was investigated or to which the bulk of law enforcement's resources were applied. Sales of crack on Page Street, for example, were targeted more than sales of marijuana or ecstasy in fraternities, I believe.

I think race/class bias plays in here as does the visibility of the crime (which can also be the result of socio-economic factors) and perhaps the question of jurisdiction. I imagine that until recently folks who were drunk in public on the downtown mall would more likely be arrested than those on Rugby Road or attending the Foxfield races.

Whether the increased focus on alcohol related incidents is the result of general changes in society's attitude towards drinking or a better awareness of the double standard involved, I'm not sure.

What I've heard and read about Chief Longo encourages me to believe that he is even-handed and professional, thus diminishing the likelihood of such bias.

Do you think 'restorative justice' is a good idea?
Yes, I think it has great potential.

Should it be extended to include minor offences by adults?
Yes

Do you think the restorative justice approach will be more or less effective for a bias crime?
I believe that perpetrators of violent acts often do not see their victims as fully human and that the inherent humanizing component of a face-to-face communication could help.

I think the idea of restoring the situation to what it was before is infeasible, because the perpetrator and the victim will inevitably be changed by the incident in a way that cannot be reversed. However "restorative justice" could provide some satisfaction to the victim who can by these means become an actor in his/her case in a meaningful way instead of being relegated to bystander status. (May 8, 2002)

How do you wish to be characterized, for the readers of the website?
How do I wish to be characterized? By the "b-word" of course ... beautiful, brilliant, bodacious ...!

I'm currently working as a researcher/genealogist/family historian and I go by Millie Fife. Does that answer you?