Yesterday, President Biden signed into law S.937, COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. (full text). While the impetus for the bill was the increase in hate crimes against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, the Act's provisions ramp up enforcement efforts relating to a broader group of hate crimes, including crimes committed because of the victim's religion. Among the Act's provisions are the following:
(1) Expedited review of hate crimes by the Justice Department during the next year.
(2) Justice Department must issue new guidance to states and localities on how to create online reporting of hate crimes and expand public education campaigns.
(3) Grants to states and local governments to assist in reporting of hate crimes to the National Incident-Based Reporting System.
(4) Grants for state-run Hate-Crime Hot Lines.
(5) Grants for law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs to respond to hate crimes.
(6) Justice Department must provide an annual report to Congress on the incidence of hate crimes.
(7) New provision on sentencing for hate crimes. If court imposes a term of supervised release after imprisonment, the court may order defendant to take classes or provide community service directly related to the community harmed by the defendant's offense.
