Quote:
Originally Posted by SAUGUS BOATER
Don't you have any "Hate Crime" or "discrimination" laws up there in New Hampshire? It seems that the swastika painted on the post office deserves some kind of hate crime charge also.  |
Yes, New Hampshire has a law providing for increased penalties for hate-motivated violence. If a person was “substantially motivated to commit the crime because of hostility towards the victim’s religion, race, creed, sexual orientation . . ., national origin, or sex,” penalties may be increased. The defendant must be notified of the possibility of an enhanced penalty prior to the trial. (See RSA 651)
However, the
MOTIVE for the crime is going to be key in deciding whether the offensive tagging was a true hate crime or if it was simply done for shock-value.