hate crimes

Wyoming and South Carolina are the only U.S. states without a law giving stiffer penalties for crimes motivated by someone’s race, sexual orientation, religion or disability.

Wyoming is one of just three states that haven’t enacted hate crimes legislation since Matthew Shepard was beaten and left for dead in Laramie in 1998.

The report is compiled by using data submitted by more than 2,000 law enforcement agencies around the U.S.

The committee will report its findings and recommendations to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.