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This bill would make it a hate crime to cause or attempt to cause bodily harm to a police officer because of their actual or perceived status as a law enforcement officer. The crime would be punishable by for up to 10 years imprisonment. However, in cases involving the actual or attempted murder, kidnapping, or aggravated sexual abuse of an officer the perpetrator could face a life sentence.

No offenses could be prosecuted as a hate crime against a police officer unless the Attorney General certifies in writing that:

The state doesn’t have jurisdiction;
The state has requested that the federal government assume jurisdiction;
The verdict or sentence obtained from state-level charges left unvindicated the federal interest in eliminating bias-motivated violence;
A prosecution by the U.S. is in the public interest and necessary to secure justice.

Nothing in this legislation would prevent or limit the authority of federal officers or grand juries to investigate possible hate crimes against police officers.

A seven-year statute of limitations for offenses against officers that didn’t result in death would be put in place by this legislation, although there would be no statute of limitations for crimes leading to the death of an officer.

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Should Deliberate Attacks Against Police Officers be Prosecuted as Hate Crimes?