Category Archives: Hate Crime Laws
Florida Law Enforcement Cracking Down After Spate of Hate Crimes
Like many other large urban districts throughout the US, crime rates in South Florida are generally higher as compared to rural areas. However, from time to time, there are spikes with certain types of criminal activity that cause concern for law enforcement; hate crimes definitely fall into this category. A recent spate of offenses… Read More »
Florida Push To Add Political Affiliation As Hate Crime
If a new bill proposed by state representative passes, there will be another offense added to the list of hate crimes in Florida: Acts of violence based upon political affiliation. According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the law is a response to a series of violent incidents across the US in recent months. State law… Read More »
“Blue Lives Matter”: Should Police Officers Be Included as a Protected Class under Florida’s Hate Crime Law
In the wake of the Dallas shootings of police officers during a demonstration, Florida lawmakers are reviewing their hate crime legislation and drafting proposals in hopes to expand hate crime legislation to include police officers and firefighters. The bills, known as “Blue Lives Matter”, will most likely be submitted for the 2017 Legislative session… Read More »
Florida’s Hate Crimes Act
In the last few months, the limelight has shifted to focusing in on discrimination issues on various levels. With the brutal attack on two gay men in Philadelphia last year and within the last few days, the brutal murder of three Muslims who were allegedly killed for their religion, these types of differences have… Read More »
“Homelessness” is a Protected Class under Florida’s Hate Crime Legislation
When one thinks of “hate crime,” one usually thinks about an assault committed against a member of a vulnerable community; generally an offense related to a racial, gendered, ethnic, disability, or sexual orientation prejudice. Nationwide, any offense that is found to be a hate crime carries with it significantly harsher sentences for the offenders…. Read More »