The types of acts that may involve violations of federal criminal civil rights laws are:

HATE CRIMES (18 U.S.C. § 241, 18 U.S.C. § 245 and 42 U.S.C. § 3631) -- Violent and intimidating acts of racial, ethnic and religious hatred that interfere with federally protected rights, such as housing, employment, voting, and public services.

OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT (18 U.S.C. § 241, 18 U.S.C. § 242) -- Intentional acts by law enforcement officials who misuse their positions to unlawfully deprive individuals of constitutional rights, such as the right to be free from unwarranted assaults, illegal arrests and searches, and theft of property.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING (18 U.S.C. §§ 1581-1594) – Use of force or threats of force or other forms of coercion to compel labor or services, including commercial sex acts, from victims. Modern day slavery can involve migrant farm laborers, sweat shop workers, domestic servants, and brothel workers. Victims may be U.S. citizens or aliens, or adults or children.

INTERFERENCE WITH ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE (18 U.S.C. § 248) -- Violence directed at abortion clinics or health care providers, such as doctors or nurses.

INTERFERENCE WITH THE EXERCISE OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS and DESTRUCTION OF RELIGIOUS PROPERTY (18 U.S.C. § 247) -- Violent conduct targeting religious houses of worship, usually involving the arson of churches or synagogues.

The punishment imposed by these statutes generally depends upon the injury suffered by the victim. The more serious the injury, the more severe the penalty. In some cases, where the victim had died as a result of the defendant's conduct, the death penalty applies.

-Information from the United States Department of Justice