Hate Crimes Act
Definition - What does Hate Crimes Act mean?
Hate Crimes Act, which is also known as Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, forms a part of the federal law which gives powers to the Deptartment of Justice to investigate defendants who chose their target (victim) based on color, race, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, etc.
Justipedia explains Hate Crimes Act
This law was passed in October of 2009. It was named after the victims of hate crimes, James Byrd and Matthew Shepard. People responsible for both the casualties couldn’t be punished under the federal hate crimes law of 1969.