Bill Overview
Title: Stop Hate Acts of White Supremacy Act
Description: This bill expands federal hate crime offenses to include willfully causing (or attempting to cause) bodily injury to another because of a white supremacy based motivation against any person. Additionally, the bill specifies that a hate crime offense in furtherance of a white supremacy based motivation is subject to an enhanced penalty—a prison term of any years or for life.
Sponsors: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Target Audience
Population: people impacted by white supremacy-based hate crimes
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The bill specifically targets hate crimes motivated by white supremacy, expanding the definition and penalties associated with such offenses.
- White supremacist groups in the U.S. will be directly impacted due to increased legal and social scrutiny.
- Communities and individuals targeted by white supremacy may experience increased safety and protection under this legislation.
- The legal system and law enforcement agencies will need to adjust to the expanded definitions and penalties, potentially impacting their operations.
Reasoning
- The policy addresses specific crimes linked to white supremacy, which means that only a subset of the population directly experiences its impact either as potential perpetrators or victims.
- The budget constraints limit the resources available for implementation, requiring focus on key areas such as law enforcement training and victim support services.
- The policy is expected to primarily affect those involved in or impacted by white supremacy-based crimes, but also indirectly affect broader societal perceptions of safety and justice.
- People not directly involved in these crimes may not notice a significant change in their day-to-day lives or self-reported wellbeing.
Simulated Interviews
Community Organizer (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe that this policy will help make my community feel safer.
- It's about time there was more accountability for these kinds of hate crimes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support the policy as it should deter hate crimes.
- As a member of a minority community, I appreciate the government's effort to tackle systemic racism.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Police Officer (Dallas, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will require additional training and resources for us, which is a positive step.
- Certain areas might see immediate benefits, but it will take time to see broader changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Law Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The expanded definition of hate crimes will have a meaningful impact on campus safety.
- This policy affirms the work I want to do in civil rights law.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Farmer (Rural Idaho)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried this policy might be used to infringe on freedoms unjustly.
- I do not condone hate but fear broad interpretations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Teacher (Miami, FL)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I teach minority students who may benefit directly from this policy.
- It's a step towards better protection for them.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this policy will inspire similar measures nationwide.
- It may help reduce racial tension on campus.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired Professor (Boston, MA)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this reinforce the values I've spent my life teaching.
- I expect to see gradual improvements in how hate crimes are addressed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Civil Rights Lawyer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a victory for civil rights and could be a turning point in some of my cases.
- It signals to perpetrators that hate acts are taken seriously.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Journalist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The implementation of this policy will be significant to report on.
- It can provide important insight into the legal treatment of hate crimes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $5100000 (Low: $3050000, High: $7150000)
Year 3: $5205000 (Low: $3101000, High: $7299000)
Year 5: $5310000 (Low: $3182000, High: $7438000)
Year 10: $5536050 (Low: $3314730, High: $7760060)
Year 100: $9257000 (Low: $5554200, High: $12759800)
Key Considerations
- Balancing enforcement and community perception to avoid unintended consequences such as increased animosity towards law enforcement.
- Ensuring adequate training and resources are provided for law enforcement agencies to enforce the new provisions effectively.
- Potential legal challenges related to freedom of speech and how hate crimes are defined.