The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) described offenders' motivations and then separated the findings into categories to break down offenders' characteristics more clearly. effective. The NIJ found that 66% of offenders were thrill-seeking, making this the most common characteristic for hate crime offenders (National Institute of Justice, para. 3). Offenders like the thrill and rush of committing a hate crime against someone, and that's what motivates them to do it. Committing hate crimes without defense was the second most common characteristic found among offenders (National Institute of Justice, paragraph 3). These offenders are attempting to protect themselves or their surroundings from someone they believe is different. Retaliation at 8% was the next characteristic found, meaning the offender responded to a hate crime whether it occurred or not (National Institute of Justice, para. 3). The last characteristic found was of offenders who make hate crimes their mission, and was found to represent only 1% of the offenders studied (National Institute of Justice, para. 3). These offenders make it their life goal to commit hate crimes and fight against what they perceive as such