Top Grand Island, NY Hate Crime Lawyers Near You
For DWI Defense, You Want an Attorney With Over 30 Years of Proven Success to Help You. Call me Today.
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Tim Always Provides His Cell Phone To His Clients For Some Of The Best Response Times In The City. Call For Your Criminal Defense Strategy Today! Fighting For You & Your Rights.
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19 South Long Street, Buffalo, NY 14221
For those working through a Hate Crime issue in the Grand Island, New York area, Voelkl Law, P.C. can be your partner in law.
66 Park Circle, Amherst, NY 14226
Clients needing legal solutions for Hate Crime can connect with Cimasi Law Office, a local New York practice.
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501 John James Audubon Pkwy, Suite 300, Amherst, NY 14228
Patrick M. Noe, Jr., Attorney at Law, a reputable Hate Crime firm in New York, serves the Grand Island area.
665 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14203
822 Convention Tower, 43 Court St, Buffalo, NY 14202
3110 Delaware Avenue, Kenmore, NY 14217
651 Delaware Avenue, Suite 118, Buffalo, NY 14202
37 Franklin Street, Suite 800, Buffalo, NY 14202
181 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
12364 Main Rd, Akron, NY 14001
40 Fountain Plaza, Suite 500, Buffalo, NY 14202
43 Court Street, 930 Convention Tower, Buffalo, NY 14202
50 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202
403 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
484 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202
69 Delaware Ave, Suite 1003, Buffalo, NY 14202
74 Main St, Akron, NY 14001
295 Main St., Room 468, Buffalo, NY 14203
21 Princeton Place, Suite 215, Orchard Park, NY 14127
155 Summer Street, Buffalo, NY 14222
135 Delaware Avenue, Suite 2, Buffalo, NY 14202
107 Grambo Dr, Lancaster, NY 14086
99 Victoria Blvd, Cheektowaga, NY 14225
403 Main Street, Suite 716, Buffalo, NY 14203
4268 Seneca Street, Buffalo, NY 14224
Grand Island Hate Crime Information
Lead Counsel independently verifies Hate Crime attorneys in Grand Island and checks their standing with New York bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience
Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.Good Standing
Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.Annual Review
Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.Client Commitment
Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
What Is a Hate Crime?
A hate crime, or bias crime, is typically referenced as an offense that involves targeted persecution (often physical, but also emotional or psychological) of an individual for their (perceived or real) membership in a particular religious, racial, ethnic, gender or LGBTQ group. Some states, also protect political affiliation under state-level hate crime or bias crime statutes.
An individual committing assault against a victim due to the victim being an observant Muslim, a religion for which the offender has demonstrated deep-seated animosity, would qualify as a hate crime for example.
Types of Hate Crimes
A hate crime is an unlawful act motivated by bias based on race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. A “hate” offense is not in and of itself a crime, but the charge enhances the possible penalties. Once the prosecutor has proved that a defendant committed a crime and the offense was motivated by hate toward a specific group or characteristic, the severity of the punishment increases.
What States Don’t Have Hate Crime Laws?
While hate crimes are federally mandated laws, three states — namely Wyoming, South Carolina and Arkansas — do not carry state-level hate crime or bias crime statutes.
Is a Hate Crime a Felony?
At the federal level, hate crimes are generally classified as felonies given that there is a requisite harming, or serious attempt to do harm, to a victim. The punishment for a hate crime depends on the severity of the offense. If the assault results in the death of the victim, an attempt to kill the victim, aggravated sexual abuse of the victim or kidnapping — the maximum penalty can include life imprisonment. Otherwise, the maximum penalty is no more than 10 years in jail.
State level laws vary in the handling of hate crimes or bias crimes, with most jurisdictions allowing both misdemeanor and felony charges related to hate crimes. In some states, all hate crimes are considered to be felonies, while in others, hate crimes can either be classified as misdemeanors or as felony offenses.
The penalty for misdemeanor hate crime-related charges typically reaches a maximum of one year in county jail in addition to restitution or monetary fines, while those convicted of felony hate crime-related charges could face up to 10, 15 or even 20 years imprisonment, depending on the particulars of their offense.
How Is a Hate Crime Different From Other Crimes?
A hate crime differs from other categories of crime in two particularly ways.
First, the majority of other crimes focus their requisites in the realm of individual rights, responsibilities and the relationship between the offender and the victim outside of most sociopolitical framing. Hate crimes, rely almost entirely on the necessity for the offender to have an ideological reason (based on a deeply rooted bias or hate for one or more of the victim’s identity or biological groups) to motivate their criminal actions.
Second, hate crime-related charges are typically sought as penalty enhancements rather than as stand-alone charges. It is rare to see hate crime charges alone, rather than with other offenses such as assault, attempted murder or murder, sexual abuse and battery. Hate crime-related charges allow prosecutors, in most jurisdictions, to seek escalated penalties for the alleged perpetrator in response to the severity and maliciousness of their offense(s).
Have You Been Charged With a Hate Crime?
If you are convicted of a hate crime, your punishment can be increased and you could face serious time in prison. Call a Chicago attorney skilled in the defense of hate crimes to ensure you receive the best representation and avoid being sentenced to an enhanced penalty.
What to Do if Facing Federal Hate Crime Charges
If you are facing federal hate crime charges, it is strongly advised that you seek the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney at your earliest convenience.
Not only can retaining skilled and attentive legal counsel increase your odds of avoiding a conviction for hate crime-related charges, but also, in the event that taking your case to trial may prove disadvantageous, your lawyer will be best equipped to negotiate any potential plea deal on your behalf.
A conviction on charges related to hate or bias crimes is a serious matter, leaving you with a criminal record. For these reasons, among others, it is vitally important to retain adequate legal counsel.