Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 53a — PENAL CODE · Chapter 952 — Penal Code: Offenses
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-181j (2026)

Intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree: Class C felony

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) A person is guilty of intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree when such person maliciously, and with specific intent to intimidate or harass another person motivated in whole or in substantial part by the actual or perceived race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression of such other person, causes physical injury to such other person or to a third person.

(b) Intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree is a class C felony, for which three thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.

(P.A. 00-72, S. 1; P.A. 04-135, S. 2; P.A. 17-111, S. 5; P.A. 21-78, S. 17.)

History: P.A. 04-135 amended Subsec. (a) to add “disability” and “gender identity or expression” as bases; P.A. 17-111 amended Subsec. (a) to add “sex” and to replace “serious physical injury” with “physical injury” and amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re minimum fine and remitting or reducing fine; P.A. 21-78 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “because of” with “motivated in whole or in substantial part by”.

See Sec. 52-571c re action for damages and other relief for violation of this section.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2006–2025 · leading case: Kerrigan v. Comm'r of Pub. Health, 957 A.2d 407 (Conn. 2008).
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Kerrigan v. Comm'r of Pub. Health, 957 A.2d 407 (Conn. 2008). · cites it 16× “See General Statutes §§ 53a-181j, 53a-181k and 53a-181 l.”
State of West Virginia v. Steward Butler, 799 S.E.2d 718 (W. Va. 2017). · cites it 2× “18 See Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-181j; Del. Code tit.”
Simms v. Chaisson, 890 A.2d 548 (Conn. 2006). “00-72, § 9 (replacing reference to “section 53a-181b” with “section 53a-181j, 53a-181k or 53a-181£”).”
Doe v. Town of W. Hartford, 147 A.3d 1083 (Conn. App. Ct. 2016). “General Statutes § 52-571cprovides: "(a) Any person injured in person or property as a result of an act that constitutes a violation of section 53a-181j, 53a-181k or 53a-181 l may bring a civil action against the person who committed such act to recover damages for such injury.”
Prescott v. Gilshteyn, 227 Conn. App. 553 (Conn. App. Ct. 2024). “Following the hearing, the court issued a memorandum of decision dated March 15, 2023, in 6 General Statutes § 52-571c provides in relevant part: ‘‘(a) Any person injured in person or property as a result of an act that constitutes a violation of section 53a-181j, 53a-181k or…”
Sarner v. Caldwell-Boyd (D. Conn. 2022). · cites it 8× “35 This statute allows for a civil cause of action for damages resulting from an act that violates Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-181j, which is the criminal “hate crime” law that Connecticut has charged against both Sarner and Orbay.”
Gorawara v. Caprio (D. Conn. 2020). · cites it 3× “3 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-181j provides: Intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree: Class C felony (a) A person is guilty of intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree when such person maliciously, and with specific intent to intimidate or harass…”
McArthur v. Aqua Matic Lawn Sprinkle (D. Conn. 2023). · cites it 3× “164, 190 (1994) (refusing to infer a private right of action from a “bare 1 Section 53a-181j states that “[a] person is guilty of intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree when such person maliciously, and with specific intent to intimidate or harass another…”
Henry v. Hill-Lilly (D. Conn. 2025). · cites it 2× “28 Connecticut General Statutes § 52-571c In Count 23, Plaintiff asserts a claim under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-571c, which provides: Any person injured in person or property as a result of an act that constitutes a violation of section 53a-181j, 53a-181k or 53a-181l…”
Gorawara v. Caprio (D. Conn. 2021). “§ 52 -571c provides: Any person injured in person or property as a result of an act that constitutes a violation of section 53a-181j, 53a-181k or 53a-181l may bring a civil action against the person who committed such act to recover damages for such injury.”
— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-181j(a) — 2 cases
Sarner v. Caldwell-Boyd (D. Conn. 2022). “35 This statute allows for a civil cause of action for damages resulting from an act that violates Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-181j, which is the criminal “hate crime” law that Connecticut has charged against both Sarner and Orbay.”
McArthur v. Aqua Matic Lawn Sprinkle (D. Conn. 2023). “164, 190 (1994) (refusing to infer a private right of action from a “bare 1 Section 53a-181j states that “[a] person is guilty of intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree when such person maliciously, and with specific intent to intimidate or harass another…”
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