What is the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA)?
The HCPA gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence by providing the Justice Department with jurisdiction over crimes of violence where a perpetrator has selected a victim because of the victims actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. In addition, it provides the Justice Department with the ability to aid state and local jurisdictions with investigations and prosecutions of bias-motivated crimes of violence. The HCPA also authorizes the Justice Department to provide grants to state and local communities to cover the extraordinary expenses associated with the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes. Moreover, it authorizes the provision of grants for local programs to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles, including programs that train local law enforcement officers in identifying, investigating, prosecuting and preventing hate crimes. Furthermore, the
Related Questions
- Doesn’t including sexual orientation in the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act give special protection to homosexuals based on sexual behavior?
- Is the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act inclusive of transgender people?
- How did the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act change the 1969 law?
