Seattle Violent Crimes Attorneys

Washington Hate Crimes

A hate crime is defined by the FBI as a criminal offense committed against a person, property, or society which is motivated, in whole or part, by the offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or ethnicity/national origin. The federal law definition for hate crimes is very similar, and states: A hate crime occurs when the defendant intentionally selects a victim or a victim’s property because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation of any person.

Washington laws criminalize the use of force or the threat of force against a person because they are a member of a specific, protected group. The property of certain individuals is also protected by hate crime laws as a result of increased amounts of robbery and arson that were occurring on properties of certain “protected” groups. Hate crimes can occur in many different ways, including:

Any act which may result in serious injury.
Any type of injury suffered regardless of the magnitude of injury suffered.
Any form of violent threat that can potentially be carried out.
Any act that leads to property damage.

Seattle Hate Crime Lawyers: Experienced Representation

Federal laws against hate crimes are very strict and will require a thorough attorney who can effectively combat these laws and come up with effective defenses. A hate crime conviction could mean years in jail or federal prison, fines of approximately $5,000, and in some cases the judges may order the defendant to pay restitution to the victim of the crime. Victim restitution will cover things like physical and emotional damage, lost wages, property damages, or medical bills. Do not risk these harsh penalties; speak with a Seattle violent crimes lawyer as soon as possible so they can begin working to have your hate crime charges reduced or dismissed.

Contact a Seattle violent crimes attorney today to discuss your hate crime charges!