Justice for Victims of Hate Crimes Act

Justice for Victims of Hate Crimes Act

This bill establishes a statutory legal standard for proving intent in a hate crime.

A hate crime is a federal criminal offense committed because of the actual or perceived protected characteristic (e.g., race) of the victim. This bill specifies that the because of standard (i.e., the legal standard for proving intent) requires proof that the actual or perceived protected characteristic of the victim is a substantial motivating factor in the offense.