A hate crime, by definition, is any criminal offense against a person or property based on race, nationality, religion, gender, disability or sexual orientation.
The Blanch Law Firm’s skilled hate crime attorney team defends individuals charged with, or accused of, a hate crime. Our knowledge of civil rights law, understanding of state and federal hate crime laws and results driven approach to Criminal Defense provide positive outcomes for our clients.
Our experience with high profile, highly emotional cases is well documented in various major media outlets, including the New York Times, New York Post, FoxNews and others. For example: Our Client was the subject of a federal investigation into a prostitution ring and possible racketeering, which was stemming from the Eliot Spitzer/Emperor’s Club scandal.
The Blanch Law Firm was able to deal with the investigation in a manner that prevented an arrest. Our Client was charged with multiple incidents of the forcible rape of a individual who was less than 15 years old. If convicted, they would have been exposed to over 50 years in jail. The Blanch Law Firm was able to have all charges against our client dismissed before trial.
Hate Crimes are the most incendiary category of felony crimes of which one may be accused. The ramifications of being accused of, charged with or convicted of a hate crime can have lasting consequences, including loss of employment, fines, and even jail time. If you have been falsely accused of a hate crime, contact a criminal defense lawyer at The Blanch Law Firm now. Do not take a passive stance against these kinds of charges.
Hate crimes may include property crimes – like robbery – threats, intimidation or actual acts of physical violence. It has been estimated that up to 80% of bias-crimes are never reported to the authorities.
While ordinary crimes are mostly committed by someone the victim is familiar with, Hate Crimes are committed by strangers who perceive someone as being affiliated with a certain group. Hate crimes can take place in different forms, with different outcomes:
- Any act which results in serious injury. e.g., Sept 17, 2001: A Muslim-American woman in religious clothing was shopping at Albertson’s when a Caucasian woman attacked her and yelled, “America is only for white people!” The victim was taken to emergency. (Source: LA Commission on Human Relations)
- Any act which results in injury, even if the injury is slight. e.g Sept 14, 2001: A young Iranian-American woman was eating lunch with a friend who jokingly called her an Arab. A woman sitting near by followed the Iranian woman and her friend out of the restaurant, asked if the Iranian woman was an Arab, and punched her in her face. (Source: LA Commission on Human Relations)
- Any threat of violence that may be able to be carried out. e.g. Sept 14, 2001: An Iraqi-American couple were standing in front of their home when a neighbor yells towards them, “I’m going to kill Saddam Hussein and I’m going to kill your son!” (Source: Muslim Public Affairs Council)
- Any act which results in property damage. e.g. Sept 2001: An Afghan restaurant was attacked with bottles and rocks. (Source: Mangaliman, SJ Mercury News, 9/18/01) Research suggests that roughly 49 percent of hate crimes are associated with racial bias. After September 11, 2001, anti-Islamic bias crimes were at a peek of 481 incidents. About one year after the attack, however, statistics prove a 67 percent decline in anti-Islamic hate crime incidents. Only 20 percent of all hate crimes are due to religion bias, closely followed by sexual orientation bias (16.7 percent), ethnicity bias (14.8 percent) and almost none geared towards disability bias. Early investigation, especially in violent matters, supports some outstanding results and chances to adequately protect your rights.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of a hate crime, do not hesitate to contact the hate crime attorney team at The Blanch Law Firm today.
