Reported Bias Incidents in Northwest Indiana: An Examination of Newspaper Accounts
Level of Education of Students Involved
Undergraduate
Faculty Sponsor
James Old
College
College of Arts & Sciences (CAS)
Discipline(s)
Political Science
ORCID Identifier(s)
0009-0003-1513-1847
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Symposium Date
Spring 4-24-2025
Abstract
This exploratory study investigates bias-motivated incidents in and around the City of Valparaiso, Indiana, over the past 30 years. The study aims to examine patterns and trends in such incidents, defined broadly as "bias-motivated incidents" rather than the more narrowly defined "hate crimes." While hate crimes, according to the FBI, involve criminal offenses motivated by bias against race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity/national origin, bias-motivated incidents encompass any behavior expressing hostility toward individuals or property based on these characteristics, regardless of whether they rise to the level of criminal activity. The research analyzes reports of these incidents as documented in regional newspaper coverage, focusing on the frequency, location, type, and severity of incidents. The study does not include other sources and is therefore exploratory in nature, suggesting that further research using a broader range of data sources is necessary for a more comprehensive understanding. This investigation seeks to highlight patterns in bias-motivated incidents and encourage future studies to develop a more complete database of such occurrences.
Recommended Citation
Brown, Sophia C. and Old, James, "Reported Bias Incidents in Northwest Indiana: An Examination of Newspaper Accounts" (2025). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 1366.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/1366
Biographical Information about Author(s)
Sophia Brown is a second-year Criminology and Political Science student at Valparaiso University’s College of Arts and Sciences. She serves as a Student Researcher in the Political Science Department. Her research interests include gender inequality, bias-motivated incidents, and the impact of social media on the criminal justice system. In addition to her research work, she is active in several honor societies and organizations on campus. She has been recognized as Valparaiso University’s New Member of the Year for her leadership and dedication to these organizations. She plans to attend graduate school for Political Science or International Relations in the future.