Changes

Under the New York hate crime law, there is a detailed formula for determining how much higher the penalties should be.  For a misdemeanor, it is one class higher than the underlying offense.  For class B felonies, the hate crime must draw a minimum of six years of imprisonment, and for class A-1 felonies, the hate crime must draw a minimum of 20 years of imprisonment.  In addition, the judge can order the person convicted of a hate crime to participate in a hate crime education program.

Under the New York hate crime law, there is a detailed formula for determining how much higher the penalties should be.  For a misdemeanor, it is one class higher than the underlying offense.  For class B felonies, the hate crime must draw a minimum of six years of imprisonment, and for class A-1 felonies, the hate crime must draw a minimum of 20 years of imprisonment.  In addition, the judge can order the person convicted of a hate crime to participate in a hate crime education program.

So, hate crime laws do not make conduct that was previously legal illegal.  Rather they provide for higher penalties if the crime was proven to be hate motivated.

So, hate crime laws do not make illegal conduct that was previously legal.  Rather they provide for higher penalties if the crime was proven to be hate motivated.

==Real hate crimes==

==Real hate crimes==