A hate crime is a criminal act motivated by a bias against a person's race, color, national origin, disability, religion, ancestry, sexual preference, or status as a judge or peace officer. For those living in Dallas or throughout Texas, hate crimes are not a separate offense. However, hate crimes allow for an enhancement of punishment for other criminal acts.
The FBI considers hate crimes to be a catalyst for terrorism. Groups who commonly face hate crimes become more fearful as a community. They might begin to underreport hate crimes when they feel the law will not protect them from acts of violence. The U.S takes hate crimes seriously because when criminals do not face consequences, it can lead to widespread conflict and civil disturbance.
A hate crime increases the seriousness of a charge by one class level. For example, when someone faces a Class B misdemeanor, a hate crime can increase the charge to a Class A misdemeanor. Hate crimes can only be attached to criminal acts, such as property crime, assault, or verbal threats. However, offensive language or provocative actions may be called hate incidents rather than crimes.