Illinois treats hate crimes particularly seriously and charges can result in harsher penalties compared to similar crimes that are not motivated by bias. When a defendant is convicted of a hate crime, the judge can use the defendant’s motivation as an aggravating factor, leading to a more severe sentence. If you are facing criminal charges for an offense that could be considered a hate crime, speak with a qualified Chicago, IL criminal defense attorney about how it could impact your potential sentence and what you can do about it.
What is Considered a Hate Crime?
When a person or group seems to be targeted based on their religious affiliation, ethnicity, race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability, it is typically considered a hate crime. For example, if a place of worship, like a church, mosque, or synagogue, is vandalized, it can often be treated as a hate crime because the act targets a specific religious group. The motivation behind the alleged crime is the key to a hate crime charge. For someone to be convicted, the prosecution needs to prove that the person intended to harm the victim because of their identity or group affiliation.