What defines a hate crime?

A hate crime is defined as an offense that is primarily motivated by bias or prejudice against a particular group based on factors such as sex, gender, religion, ancestry, or sexual orientation. This motivation distinguishes hate crimes from other types of criminal offenses that may be driven by different factors.

In essence, hate crimes not only involve illegal acts but also reflect an intention to intimidate or harm a group of people based on their inherent characteristics or beliefs. This characteristic of being motivated by such specific identity factors is what categorizes these crimes as hate crimes under various legal frameworks, including federal and state laws.

The other options, while they may describe motives for other types of crimes, do not encapsulate the essence of what constitutes a hate crime. Financial gain, revenge, or personal conflict may drive many criminal acts, but they lack the critical element of bias against a specific group, which defines hate crimes.