Florida among first states to make attacks on homeless hate crimes, By Kate Santich, May 19, 2010, Orlando Sentinel: “For four years, Florida has been named the worst state in the nation for violence against the homeless. Now it’s one of the first states to enact a law making it a hate crime to attack a homeless person. Experts are divided on whether the newly passed legislation will serve as a deterrent, but there’s no question it will make for stiffer penalties. The law, signed last week by Gov. Charlie Crist, will go into effect Oct. 1. It adds homeless people to an existing hate-crimes law that increases sentencing for attacks motivated by a victim’s race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, mental or physical disability or advanced age…”
Tag: Hate crime legislation
Report: Attacks on the Homeless
- Attacks on homeless bring push on hate crime laws, By Eric Lichtblau, August 7, 2009, New York Times: “With economic troubles pushing more people onto the streets in the last few years, law enforcement officials and researchers are seeing a surge in unprovoked attacks against the homeless, and a number of states are considering legislation to treat such assaults as hate crimes. This October, Maryland will become the first state to expand its hate-crime law to add stiffer penalties for attacks on the homeless. At least five other states are pondering similar steps, the District of Columbia approved such a measure this week, and a like bill was introduced last week in Congress…”
- Florida led the nation last year in violence against the homeless, By Scott Wyman, August 8, 2009, South Florida Sun Sentinel: “Last September, a homeless woman in Pompano Beach was raped and nearly strangled. Earlier in the year, two homeless men in West Palm Beach were shot and killed and a Fort Lauderdale man was accused of harassing the homeless with a chainsaw. Florida led the nation for the fourth consecutive year in violence against the homeless in a report released Saturday by the National Coalition for the Homeless. The group documented 30 attacks last year in 10 communities across the state, including three deaths…”