Sexual Assault/Rape

1. The population in Alabama is 3,431,868. The state total of forcible rapes reported was 1,371. 

2. When it comes to rape in the state of Alabama there is no statute of limitations because the offense of rape  is classified as a crime that can be punished capitally. But for all felonies, the time limitation is within three years after the offense was committed. Then for all misdemeanors the time limitation is within one year after the offense was committed. 

Someone can be charged with statutory rape in Alabama when rape occurs in the first or second degree. The age of consent is 16 years old and once someone becomes of age, they can also be charged with statutory rape if they have sexual contact with someone that has not reached 16 years of age. If someone who is 16 years or older has sexual contact with someone that is under 12 years old can be charged with rape in the first degree. Now if someone 16 or older has sexual contact with someone between the ages of 12-16 when the actor is at least two years older they can be charged with rape in the second degree.

3. In 2006, 19-year-old Gary Helms Jr. raped his mother, who was 45 years old, to get back at his brother. Authorities said that the rape started while the mother was passed out drunk on the couch. Halfway through the assault she came to and realized it was her son and tried to get away but he held her down until he was finished. Helms ended up being arrested and charged for first degree rape of his own mother. 

4. This PSA is about how men should be involved in spreading awareness about rape. It shouldn't be on women's shoulders alone to get the news out there and to tell people what is the right thing to do. This shows men saying that no matter the circumstance, "don't rape her."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shIjkXpf-e4

This is another PSA concerning rape. It shows a young couple kissing and going into a bedroom but the girl isn't ready to go all the way but the boy doesn't buy it. The girl keeps saying no and tries to stop his advances and as he pushes himself on her there is a copy of himself watching from a glass room yelling at himself to stop. It is asking teenagers, "if you could see yourself, would you see rape?" 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPC-Q2NMwJw&feature=player_embedded

I believe that both of these are good representations of rape. It needs to not just be on women to tell others that it's bad, men should do it to. Also, I feel like the second one puts it in good perspective that some may not think it's rape when it is and they need to get the message out there to young people. 

Hate Crimes

1. The population covered in the state of Alabama was 2,285,487 and the incidents of hate crimes reported was 83.

2. Alabama's state law on hate crimes covers bias-motivated violence and intimidation, race, religion and ethnicity, disability, and institutional vandalism. On the other end, Alabama doesn't cover civil action, sexual orientation, gender, date collection, training for law enforcement personnel and other.

3. In Alabama they impose more penalties for hate crimes where the defendant knows what they are doing and performs the hate crime towards someone because of their race, color, sex, national origin, mental and physical disability. Also, they impose more when it comes to burning an American flag or cross on someone's property, a highway or other public place. The definition of hate crimes I found says that the person participating in the offense was motivated because of the victim's perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, physical and/or mental disability and ethnicity.

5. In Mobile, Alabama a white man named Matthew Owens was beaten into critical condition by a mob of 20 black youths and adults. Owens complained about a basketball game in the evening when he was playing with some of the youths and the infuriated players ended the game. Later that night, the players came back with a group of adults holding weapons and attacked Owens on his front porch. A witness said that one of the attackers said "Justice for Trayvon," which makes this out to be a hate crime against Owens' skin color and outside factors. As of right now, only one person has been arrested for this offense and Owens has not made a full recovery.

6. This is the "We Give A Damn" PSA made by Cyndi Lauper and it targets hate crimes against the LGBT community. It's assuring that there are people out there that care about you. Also, they talk about wanting to put an end to senseless acts of violence and intimidation.
http://www.wegiveadamn.org/2010/10/new-video-hate-crimes-we-give-a-damn/

There is a book called Hate Crimes: Causes, Controls and Controversies. The book goes over the whole idea of hate crimes and exams the problem of hate crimes. It also talks about the history of hate crimes, how they happen and the activities of extremist hate groups. One real interesting part of this book is the author gives a guide on how to start an anti-hate campaign and talks about hate on campus.