North Carolina H961 establishes a sentence enhancement for felony offenses committed due to a victim's characteristic.

North Carolina H961, known as "The Hate Crimes Prevention Act," amends the state's General Statutes to enhance sentences for felonies committed because of a victim's race, ethnicity, color, religion, nationality, country of origin, or gender. The bill mandates that such offenses be sentenced at a felony class one level higher than the principal felony. It also requires the indictment or information for the felony to allege the facts qualifying the offense for enhancement.

North Carolina H961 establishes a sentence enhancement for felony offenses committed due to a victim's characteristic.

North Carolina H961, known as "The Hate Crimes Prevention Act," amends the state's General Statutes to enhance sentences for felonies committed because of a victim's race, ethnicity, color, religion, nationality, country of origin, or gender. The bill mandates that such offenses be sentenced at a felony class one level higher than the principal felony. It also requires the indictment or information for the felony to allege the facts qualifying the offense for enhancement.