Criminal Justice (Victims' Rights)

in committee · United States · House May 11, 2026

HR 8733: Melanie's Law

Melanie's Law creates a federal grant program to help states expand their ability to issue and enforce protective orders for people connected to domestic violence victims. The bill defines these protections to cover family members, former spouses, parents of the same child, and individuals in intimate relationships, ensuring courts can shield third-party relatives from harm as well. To support this, the legislation provides funding for training law enforcement and judges, improving how protective orders are served across different jurisdictions, and establishing better systems to track order violations. Additionally, the grants can be used to offer victims essential services such as legal aid, counseling, emergency housing, and safety equipment. States must have laws in place granting these specific protective order authorities to qualify for the federal money, which is authorized at $200 million annually from 2026 through 2036.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates grants to expand protective orders for domestic violence victims and trains law enforcement, strengthening victim safety and judicial support.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

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in committee · United States · House Feb 11, 2026

HR 7494: Preventing Domestic Violence Homicides Through Lethality Assessment Training and Technical Assistance Act

This bill establishes a national resource center to help states, local governments, and tribes adopt programs designed to prevent domestic violence homicides. It authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to nonprofit or tribal organizations that have proven experience in creating and evaluating these safety initiatives. The funded programs would train first responders to better identify high-risk situations and connect victims quickly with community support services using evidence-based tools. A total of $5,000,000 is authorized annually starting in fiscal year 2026 to support these efforts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes grants to fund domestic violence prevention programs and lethality assessment training for first responders.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds training for first responders to identify high-risk domestic violence situations, directly strengthening law enforcement capabilities and victim safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Victims' Rights

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in committee · United States · Senate May 12, 2026

S 4500: VICTIM Act of 2026

The VICTIM Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to help local, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies improve their clearance rates for homicides and firearm-related violent crimes. Funds awarded to eligible entities can be used to hire and train investigators, upgrade forensic technology, implement evidence-based investigative strategies, and provide support services for victims and their families. The legislation also mandates strict oversight measures, requiring grant recipients to submit annual reports on their progress and undergo regular audits to ensure funds are not misused. Additionally, the act sets aside specific portions of the funding to guarantee that rural and Tribal law enforcement agencies receive a share of the available resources.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds law enforcement to improve clearance rates and provides victim support services, directly strengthening criminal justice outcomes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Victims' Rights Violent Crime

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in committee · United States · House Apr 20, 2026

HRES 1190: Supporting the designation of April 19 through April 25, 2026, as "National Crime Victims' Rights Week".

This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' strong support for designating April 19 through April 25, 2026, as "National Crime Victims' Rights Week." It recognizes the impact of crime on victims and survivors, appreciates organizations that assist them, and encourages continued efforts to support victims' rights and services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill designates National Crime Victims' Rights Week, explicitly supporting victims' rights and services within the criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Human Trafficking Victims' Rights

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 25, 2025

S 706: American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act

This bill updates the fund supporting victims of state-sponsored terrorism by directing specific funds into the compensation pool. It requires $898 million from the Binance forfeiture case and annual transfers of 50% of excess balances from DOJ and Treasury forfeiture funds to the Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund. Payments to eligible claimants must be distributed by March 14, 2025, for the fifth round, with future annual payments starting in 2026. The bill mandates detailed annual reports on fund activity from the Attorney General and a GAO report on forfeiture proceeds, focusing on transparency and accountability for victims.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs $898M and annual forfeiture funds to terrorism victims compensation, explicitly funding a government program.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates funds to compensate victims of terrorism, strengthening victim support within the criminal justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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in committee · United States · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 1218: SHIELD Act of 2025

This bill prohibits non-consensual distribution of intimate images (like photos showing genitals or sexual activity) created in private settings without the subject's consent, if the distribution causes psychological, financial, or reputational harm. It specifically bans sharing nude images of minors with abusive intent. Exceptions cover law enforcement, journalism, medical use, and legal proceedings. Violations carry up to 2 years in prison for non-consensual adult images or 3 years for minor-related offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates criminal penalties for non-consensual image sharing, protecting victims' privacy rights and aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyPrevents non-consensual sharing of intimate images, directly protecting data privacy - a core aspect of technology policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

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in committee · United States · House Sep 23, 2025

HR 5560: Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act

This bill removes time limits for victims to file civil and criminal cases related to child sexual abuse, exploitation, and sex trafficking. It requires states to eliminate statutes of limitations for these cases and revive previously time-barred claims, allowing victims a minimum of 2 years or until age 55 to pursue legal action (Section 3, Section 4). The bill provides federal grants to states that adopt these reforms, with funding tiers based on how many changes they implement (e.g., eliminating civil/criminal time limits or reviving expired claims) (Section 4). It directly affects survivors of child sexual abuse by expanding their legal options to seek justice, addressing findings that most victims delay reporting until decades later.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse cases, enabling victims to pursue justice and aligning with criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Victims' Rights

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in committee · United States · House Feb 25, 2026

HR 7711: No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act

This bill prohibits using federal funds - including the Judgment Fund or victim compensation programs - to pay any individual prosecuted for the January 6 Capitol attack, even if later pardoned. It also bans creating new compensation funds for these individuals and stops refunds of court-ordered payments like restitution or fines from being returned to rioters. Any funds that would have been refunded must instead be transferred to the Architect of the Capitol. The law directly affects those convicted or pardoned for involvement in the Capitol attack, blocking taxpayer-funded compensation for their actions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents refunds of court-ordered fines/restitution for Capitol rioters, ensuring enforcement of criminal penalties without undermining accountability in sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Victims' Rights

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 3, 2025

S 1931: A bill to provide additional funding to States that provide certain rights to sexual assault survivors, and for other purposes.

This bill (S 1931) provides federal funding to states that meet specific standards for protecting sexual assault survivors' rights. States qualify for one of three funding tiers based on whether they have laws, regulations, or policies that provide rights matching federal standards under Section 3772 of Title 18 (e.g., right to be informed of case status, right to a safe environment during medical exams). The funding allocates 60% to states meeting the strictest standard, 25% to those meeting a moderate standard, and 15% to those meeting a less comprehensive standard. Additionally, the bill extends the minimum retention period for sexual assault evidence kits from "20 years or statute of limitations" to "at least 20 years" to preserve evidence for potential future investigations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds states meeting victim rights standards for sexual assault survivors, advancing victim protections in criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates states provide medical exam rights for sexual assault survivors, directly protecting patient access to healthcare services and aligning with healthcare patient rights standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Violent Crime

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 3, 2025

S 361: Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking Act

S 361 amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to adjust how federal grants assist human trafficking victims. It increases the maximum allowable administrative costs for grantees from 3% to up to 7% and from 5% to up to 10%, while requiring at least 95% of grant funds to go directly to victim services. The bill also adds "strengthening program administration and budgeting" as a permitted use of funds. These changes directly affect organizations receiving federal grants under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, providing greater flexibility for operational costs while ensuring most funding supports victims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends trafficking grants to increase victim service funding efficiency (95% direct services), strengthening victim support within criminal justice reform framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Victims' Rights

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