An Act relative to hate crimes

SD 177 increases sentencing for hate crimes under Chapter 265. It raises the minimum sentence for certain offenses from five to ten years, changes incarceration from "house of correction" to "state prison," and increases maximum sentences (e.g., from ten to twenty years for specific violations). The bill directly affects individuals convicted of hate crimes by lengthening prison terms and requiring state prison placement instead of local facilities. These changes apply to existing sentencing provisions without creating new offenses or altering victim protections.