Sharp increase in hate crimes has Mass. legislators looking to tighten laws

https://www.milforddailynews.com/story/news/state/2021/05/23/massachusetts-looks-tighten-hate-crime-statute/5179954001/A sharp increase in incidents of hate, particularly directed at Asian Americans, has prompted lawmakers to file legislation to strengthen the state’s hate crime statute, provide better training to recognize bias and redefine penalties for breaking the law.

State Rep. Tram Nguyen, D-Andover, and state Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, recently joined forces with Attorney General Maura Healey in an effort to protect women and immigrants as targets of hate crimes; escalate penalties for repeat offenders; combine civil rights and hate crimes statutes into one section of the law; allow for harsher sentencing for severe offenses without creating mandatory minimums; and create clearer definitions of hate crimes.

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