New Hate Crime Legislation in Florida

Across the nation, political violence has shocked and appalled Americans. From gun attacks against President Trump during the last campaign, to the more recent murder of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman, and to the arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro’s residence, there is no question about the determination of would-be assailants in the modern era. For that reason, Florida State Representative Debra Tendrich sponsored a new bill that would increase the penalties already on the books for criminal attacks. The strategy is simple: the bill seeks to include political ideology in the list of categories that are considered hate crimes.

Florida Hate Crime Law 

Under Florida law, crimes that are based on prejudice against certain groups are classified as hate crimes. That means additional penalties can be added on to the sentence given for the criminal conviction by reclassifying the crime at a higher level, such as from a second-degree misdemeanor to a first-degree misdemeanor, from a misdemeanor to a felony. The protected areas include:

• Religion;
• Race, color, ancestry, national origin, or ethnicity;
• Disability;
• Sexual orientation;
• Being homeless;
• Being elderly.

Florida Hate Crime Statistics

The majority of reported hate crimes in Florida (nearly 50 percent) are based on the victims’ race or ethnicity. Crimes related to religion follow with roughly one-third of hate crimes based on the perceived religion of the victim. About 15 percent of hate crimes target individuals based on sexual orientation, with bias against other characteristics making up the rest of reported cases.

Political Ideation and Murder

Excluding data related to the 9/11 attacks, there have been 618 known murders related to political ideology in the country in the past several decades. Over 60 percent of these crimes have involved right-wing extremists, 10 percent have involved left-wing extremists, and about one-fourth have involved Islamist extremists.

Why it Matters

While political violence accounts for a small portion of violence in the country overall, it is still a significant issue because the impact of these incidents is augmented by the symbolism associated with targets and by the media coverage of such violence. The impact of such violence on society is difficult to quantify, but we know that when politicians are targeted, their constituencies feel the repercussions long afterward.

Are You Facing Hate Crime Enhancements? 

If you’ve been charged with a crime based on your bias against a protected group, you are most certainly facing serious penalties. The Miami criminal defense attorneys at The Law Office of Julia Kefalinos believe every defendant deserves a vigorous defense. To discuss your situation, schedule a confidential consultation today.

Source:

wfla.com/news/politics/florida-bill-seeks-to-label-political-offenses-as-hate-crimes/