Delaware § 1304 Hate crimes; class A misdemeanor, class G felony, class F felony, class E felony, class D felony, class C felony, class B felony, class A felony

Delaware Statutes

§ 1304 — Hate crimes; class A misdemeanor, class G felony, class F felony, class E felony, class D felony, class C felony, class B felony, class A felony

Delaware § 1304

JurisdictionDelaware

Title11

PartDelaware Criminal Code

Ch. 5SPECIFIC OFFENSES

Subch.Offenses Against Public Health, Order and Decency

This text of Delaware § 1304 (Hate crimes; class A misdemeanor, class G felony, class F felony, class E felony, class D felony, class C felony, class B felony, class A felony) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Del. Code tit. 11, § 1304 (2026).

Text

(a)Any person who commits, or attempts to commit, any crime as defined by the laws of this State, and who intentionally does any of the following is guilty of a hate crime:

(1)Commits the crime for the purpose of interfering with the victim’s free exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, or immunity protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, or commits the crime because the victim has exercised or enjoyed a First Amendment right, privilege, or immunity.

(2)Commits the crime and is motivated in whole or in part by a belief or perception regarding the race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, sex, age, gender identity, national origin, or ancestry of a person or group, regardless of whether the belief or perception is accurate.

(b)For purpos

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(a) Any person who commits, or attempts to commit, any crime as defined by the laws of this State, and who intentionally does any of the following is guilty of a hate crime:

(1) Commits the crime for the purpose of interfering with the victim’s free exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, or immunity protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, or commits the crime because the victim has exercised or enjoyed a First Amendment right, privilege, or immunity.

(2) Commits the crime and is motivated in whole or in part by a belief or perception regarding the race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, sex, age, gender identity, national origin, or ancestry of a person or group, regardless of whether the belief or perception is accurate.

(b) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Group” includes an organization or association of persons, whether formal or informal.

(2) “Protective hairstyle” includes braids, locks, and twists.

(3) “Race” includes traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyle.

(c) A hate crime is punished as follows:

(1) If the underlying offense is a violation or unclassified misdemeanor, the hate crime is a class A misdemeanor;

(2) If the underlying offense is a class A, B, or C misdemeanor, the hate crime is a class G felony;

(3) If the underlying offense is a class C, D, E, F, or G felony, the hate crime is 1 grade higher than the underlying offense;

(4) If the underlying offense is a class A or B felony, the hate crime is the same grade as the underlying offense, and the minimum sentence of imprisonment required for the underlying offense must be doubled.

(d) The Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over a violation of this section.

Legislative History

70 Del. Laws, c. 138, § 1 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 175, §§ 1, 2 ; 79 Del. Laws, c. 47, § 15 ; 83 Del. Laws, c. 13, § 8 ; 83 Del. Laws, c. 195, § 3 ; 83 Del. Laws, c. 477, § 1 ; 84 Del. Laws, c. 215, § 3