The amendment entails an additional enhancement of one year for a sexually violent felony and three years for a violent felony for each prior separate prison term served for a violent felony. The expectation behind this change is to underscore society's condemnation of hate crimes by allowing courts to impose stiffer sentences, which could potentially deter future offenses and promote a safer community.
Summary
Assembly Bill 32, introduced by Assembly Member Nguyen, seeks to amend Section 667.5 of the Penal Code concerning violent felonies and specifically aims to include felony hate crimes under this classification. By reclassifying hate crimes as violent felonies, the bill proposes to impose stricter penalties on individuals convicted of such offenses, thereby enhancing the legal repercussions for these types of crimes.
Contention
While proponents argue that this increase in penalties is necessary to combat the rising tide of hate crimes, critics may voice concerns regarding the potential for over-criminalization or disproportionately harsh punishments. This bill fundamentally affects state laws related to hate crimes and prison sentencing, which could ignite debates over the balance between public safety and fair justice practices.