Hate Crimes Laws
I. Introduction
II. ADL Approach:
a - Penalty Enhancement and the Inclusion of Gender
b - Text of ADL Model Legislation
c - Wisconsin's Penalty - Enhancement Statute
III. Constitutionality

IV. Other Means

V. Federal Initiatives

VI. Current Status
Charts & Graphs:

State Hate Crime Laws

Hate Crime Statistics:
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    		•  FBI overview
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    		•  Motivations for Hate Crimes
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    State Hate Crimes / Statutory Provisions
    [ Alabama - Idaho ] [ Illinois - Missouri ] [ Montana - Pennsylvania ]
    [ Rhode Island - Wyoming ]

    Alabama - Idaho
      AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI ID
    Bias-Motivated Violence
    and Intimidation    		 Check Check Check   Check Check Check Check Check Check Check   Check
    Civil Action       Check Check Check Check Check   Check Check   Check
    Criminal Penalty Check Check Check   Check Check Check Check Check Check Check   Check
    Race, Religion,
    Ethnicity 1    		 Check Check Check   Check Check Check Check Check Check     Check
    Sexual Orientation     Check   Check   Check Check Check Check      
    Gender   Check Check   Check     Check          
    Other 2 Check Check Check   Check     Check Check        
    Institutional Vandalism Check   Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check  
    Data Collection 3     Check   Check   Check Check   Check     Check
    Training for Law
    Enforcement Personnel 4    		     Check   Check                

    Illinois - Missouri
      IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO
    Bias-Motivated Violence
    and Intimidation    		 Check   Check   Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check
    Civil Action Check   Check     Check     Check Check Check   Check
    Criminal Penalty Check   Check   Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check
    Race, Religion,
    Ethnicity 1    		 Check   Check   Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check
    Sexual Orientation Check   Check   Check Check Check   Check   Check    
    Gender Check   Check     Check Check     Check Check Check  
    Other 2 Check   Check     Check Check   Check   Check    
    Institutional Vandalism Check Check   Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check
    Data Collection 3 Check   Check   Check Check Check Check Check Check Check    
    Training for Law
    Enforcement Personnel 4    		 Check   Check   Check Check     Check   Check    

    Montana - Pennsylvania
      MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA
    Bias-Motivated Violence
    and Intimidation    		 Check Check Check Check Check   Check5 Check Check Check Check Check Check
    Civil Action   Check Check   Check         Check Check Check Check
    Criminal Penalty Check Check Check Check Check   Check Check Check Check Check Check Check
    Race, Religion,
    Ethnicity 1    		 Check Check Check Check Check   Check Check Check Check Check Check Check
    Sexual Orientation   Check Check Check Check   Check         Check  
    Gender   Check   Check Check   Check   Check        
    Other 2   Check Check Check Check   Check       Check    
    Institutional Vandalism Check   Check   Check Check   Check   Check Check Check Check
    Data Collection 3   Check Check   Check           Check Check Check
    Training for Law
    Enforcement Personnel 4    		                       Check  

    Rhode Island - Wyoming
      RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY
    Bias-Motivated Violence
    and Intimidation    		 Check   Check Check Check6 Check7 Check Check Check Check Check  
    Civil Action Check   Check Check     Check Check Check   Check  
    Criminal Penalty Check   Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check  
    Race, Religion,
    Ethnicity 1    		 Check   Check Check     Check Check Check Check Check  
    Sexual Orientation Check     Check     Check   Check   Check  
    Gender Check           Check   Check Check    
    Other 2 Check           Check   Check Check Check  
    Institutional Vandalism Check Check   Check Check     Check Check   Check  
    Data Collection 3 Check       Check     Check Check      
    Training for Law
    Enforcement Personnel 4    		 Check               Check      


    1. The following states also have statutes criminalizing interference with religious worship: CA. DC. FL. ID, MD. MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NV, NM, NY, NC, OK, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, WV.

    2. "Other" includes mental and physical disability or handicap (AL, AK, AZ, CA, DC, DE, IL, IA, LA, ME, MA, MN, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, OK, RI, VT WA WI), political affiliation (DC, IA, LA, WV) and age (DC, IA, LA, VT).

    3. States with data collection statues which include sexual orientation are AZ, CA, CT, DC, FL, IL, IA ,MD, NV, OR, and WA; those which include gender are AZ, DC, IL, IA, MN, WA.

    4. Some other states have regulations mandating such training.

    5. New York State law provides penalty enhancement limited to the crime of aggravated harassment.

    6. The Texas Statute refers to victims selected "because of the defendant's bias or prejudice against a person or group."

    7. The Utah Statute ties penalties for hate crimes to violations of the victim's constitutional or civil rights.


    Next: Map of State Statutes

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