The term “hate crime” has become a familiar component of everyday discourse. The public is routinely confronted with media coverage of incidents involving potential criminal actions that appear to have been motivated by hate or bias. But what is the legal definition of a hate crime? What are the challenges related to these offenses, and how do they differ from offenses where bias is not the perceived motivation? Finally, what are the issues facing the law enforcement officers tasked with identifying, investigating, and successfully prosecuting hate crimes?