NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — On Thursday night, North Charleston’s City Council unanimously approved a new hate crimes ordinance. This ordinance establishes that anyone convicted of a crime against another person based on factors such as ethnicity, nationality, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or physical or mental disability will be guilty of a separate misdemeanor offense, in addition to any other charges related to the crime.
According to the new ordinance, those found guilty will face a fine of up to $500 and could be sentenced to up to 30 days in jail. Furthermore, the ordinance states that this punishment must be served consecutively to any sentence for the underlying criminal offense, unless a court rules otherwise.
This ordinance was first introduced to the city council on April 25, and it takes effect immediately. North Charleston is the third municipality in the Lowcountry to adopt such a hate crime ordinance, following Mount Pleasant and Charleston.
Several local governments in South Carolina are creating their own hate crime laws because the state has yet to implement a statewide hate crime statute.
