	Introduction

Federal criminal civil rights laws impose criminal penalties for the deprivation of certain federal rights, privileges, or immunities. While some of these laws require a discriminatory motivation, others—such as those regarding human trafficking, conspiracy against rights, and deprivation of rights under "color of law —do not. Federal Statutes

		Conspiracy Against Rights—18 U.S.C. §242

Federal civil rights prosecutions against state actors (e.g., law enforcement) are usually conducted pursuant to 18 U.S.C §242, which makes it a crime for "any person acting under color of any law, statute, ordinance regulation, or custom to willfully deprive or cause to be deprived from any person those rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution and laws of the U.S." 
There are four elements to establish offenses under this section: (1) the victim must have been an inhabitant of a U.S. state, district, or territory when the alleged violation occurred; (2) defendant acted under color of any law; (3) the defendant's conduct deprived the victim of some right secured or protected by the U.S. Constitution; and (4) the defendant acted willfully, that is, with specific intent to violate the protected constitutional right. Federally Protected Activities—18 U.S.C. Damage to Religious Property—18 U.S.C. Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances—18 U.S.C. Hate Crime Acts—18 U.S.C. Criminal Interference With Right to Fair Housing—42 U.S.C. The offense is punishable by a range of imprisonment up to a life term, depending upon the circumstances of the crime and the resulting injury, if any.
Federal criminal civil rights laws impose criminal penalties for deprivation of certain federal rights, privileges, or immunities. These laws prohibit hate crimes based on race, color, religion, or national origin; the burning of places of worship; violence against health care providers; and the transport of persons (particularly women and children) for the purpose of enslavement or forced labor. Some of these laws require a discriminatory motivation while others, such as human trafficking, do not. Some cover offenders acting "under color of any law."
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigates alleged violations. Punishments can range from a fine to lifetime imprisonment; in some cases the death penalty may be imposed, depending upon the circumstances and the resulting injury, if any.
This report provides a brief summary of selected federal criminal civil right statutes:
Conspiracy Against Rights—18 U.S.C. §241 Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law—18 U.S.C. §242 Federally Protected Activities—18 U.S.C. §245 Damage to Religious Property—18 U.S.C. §247 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances—18 U.S.C. §248 Hate Crime Acts—18 U.S.C. §249 Criminal Interference With Right to Fair Housing—42 U.S.C. §3631