Bill > H1704

This bill aims to reform the hate crime statutes in Massachusetts. It proposes several key changes, including: 1) requiring the Crime Reporting Unit to collect and analyze hate crime data from law enforcement agencies as well as voluntary reports from community groups and civil rights organizations; 2) expanding the definition of "protected characteristics" to include race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, and disability; 3) enhancing penalties for hate crimes, including the addition of community-based restorative justice programs as a sentencing option; and 4) allowing individuals charged under the hate crime statutes to be eligible for participation in community-based restorative justice programs. The bill is intended to improve data collection, prevention, and response to hate crimes in the state.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1704