Criminal Justice

in committee · United States · Senate Jan 28, 2025

S 271: Stop Illegal Reentry Act

S 271, the "Stop Illegal Reentry Act," increases penalties for immigrants who re-enter the U.S. after being denied entry, deported, or removed without authorization. It directly affects individuals previously removed or excluded from the U.S. who return without prior consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security. Key provisions include raising maximum prison terms to 10 years for re-entry after prior removals linked to drug crimes, violent offenses, or multiple removals, and mandating a minimum 5-year sentence for those convicted twice of re-entry or of serious crimes before removal. The bill also clarifies that "removal" includes agreements made during criminal trials, expanding the scope of affected individuals.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases prison terms to 10 years for re-entry offenses, expanding criminalization and mandatory sentencing per criminal justice indicators.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationIncreases penalties for unauthorized re-entry after deportation, raising prison terms to 10 years for certain offenses, directly restricting immigrant re-entry and enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing Border Security Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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passed · United States · House Nov 20, 2025

HR 5214: District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act of 2025

This bill revises Washington D.C. law to require cash bail for individuals charged with "public safety or order crimes" (such as failure to appear, obstruction, rioting, or certain burglaries/robberies not involving weapons) and mandates pretrial detention for those charged with "crime of violence" or "dangerous crime" (expanding definitions to include first-degree or weapon-enhanced offenses). It removes exceptions allowing release without cash bail for violent crimes and replaces existing pretrial release procedures with new criteria focusing on public safety risks. The changes apply to offenses committed 30 days after enactment and define key terms like "secured appearance bond" (requiring property or money as collateral). This modifies D.C.'s existing bail framework to increase detention or financial requirements for specific offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires cash bail for public safety crimes, mandates pretrial detention for violent offenses, and removes release exceptions - restricting defendant rights and expanding pretrial detention.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Judges

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in committee · United States · House May 7, 2025

HR 3242: Punishing Illegal Immigrant Felons Act of 2025

This bill increases mandatory prison sentences for non-citizens convicted of certain crimes after entering the U.S. without authorization or being deported. It raises the minimum sentence from 2 to 5 years for those who improperly enter the U.S. and later commit a crime punishable by over one year in prison. For non-citizens previously deported who commit crimes, it increases the minimum sentence from 2 to 10 years and mandates at least 10 years for offenses including aggravated felonies, state/federal felonies, or crimes punishable by over one year. These changes apply to all non-citizens convicted under these circumstances, regardless of jurisdiction.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory sentences for non-citizens, expanding criminalization and reducing judicial discretion, directly opposing reform indicators.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationIncreases mandatory prison sentences for non-citizens convicted of crimes, strengthening immigration enforcement and limiting protections for immigrants with criminal records.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · United States · Senate Dec 9, 2025

S 3398: Stop Sextortion Act

Stop Sextortion Act This bill criminalizes threats to distribute child sexual abuse material to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress. This practice is commonly referred to as sextortion . The bill also increases criminal penalties for related offenses that involve the use of child sexual abuse material to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress. Specifically, the bill establishes new federal criminal offenses for threatening to distribute child pornography or a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct with intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress. An offense, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit the offense, is subject to criminal penalties. Additionally, the bill increases the maximum prison term for various offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children if those offenses involve the use of child pornography or a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct with intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new federal offense for sextortion threats and increases penalties, expanding criminalization per 'oppose' indicator.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking

Track

in committee · United States · House Feb 13, 2026

HR 7569: Punishing Health Care Fraudsters Act

This bill increases penalties for healthcare fraud involving federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid. It raises maximum prison sentences under federal law from 10 to 25 years and 20 to 30 years, and increases fines from $100,000 to $250,000 for violations of the Social Security Act. The law directly affects individuals or entities committing fraud against federal health programs, such as billing for unnecessary services or stealing patient data. Key provisions amend existing criminal penalties and require the U.S. Sentencing Commission to update guidelines to better reflect the severity of these offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases maximum prison sentences for healthcare fraud, directly aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator under OPPOSE stance for Criminal Justice.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases penalties for Medicare/Medicaid fraud, protecting federal health programs from misuse and ensuring program integrity.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill increases penalties for stealing patient data (a data privacy violation), directly strengthening protections under healthcare fraud provisions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Jun 17, 2025

HR 4034: Protect the Permian Act of 2025

This bill creates an FBI-led task force to investigate oil theft in the Permian Basin, requiring coordination with state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. It increases criminal penalties for oil theft, raising maximum sentences from 3 to 5 years for certain offenses and from 10 to 15 years for others under federal law. The bill also authorizes using federal crime-fighting funds to support oil theft prevention programs and hire dedicated investigators. These changes directly affect law enforcement agencies conducting investigations and individuals committing oil theft crimes involving pipelines, refineries, or related equipment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases maximum federal sentences for oil theft (3→5 years, 10→15 years), directly expanding criminalization and raising mandatory penalties per 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill protects oil production infrastructure from theft in Permian Basin, directly supporting fossil fuel energy production through enhanced security and penalties for oil theft.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Oil & Gas

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Oct 30, 2025

S 3089: STOP Act

This bill (S 3089, the STOP Act) creates a new federal offense for barricading during arrest evasion. It defines "barricade" as blocking access to a location while refusing to comply with a law enforcement officer's orders during an arrest attempt. The law makes it illegal to barricade oneself in such situations or to assist others in doing so, with penalties of up to 3 years in prison for basic violations and up to 5 years if weapons are involved, serious harm occurs, or others are present. The bill directly affects individuals resisting arrest by blocking access to officers, not the general public.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new federal offense for barricading during arrest evasion with prison terms, expanding criminalization of resistance to arrest.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · United States · House Oct 3, 2025

HR 5172: Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets Act of 2025

This bill increases mandatory minimum prison sentences for several serious crimes in the District of Columbia. It mandates life imprisonment without parole for first-degree murder, raises the minimum sentence for rape to 25 years (30 years if the offender has a prior violent crime conviction), and sets new minimums of 10 years for second-degree murder, kidnapping, and burglary. Carjacking without a weapon now requires a minimum of 10 years, while armed carjacking requires 20 years. These changes apply to individuals charged on or after the bill's enactment date and affect all D.C. criminal cases involving these offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory minimums for serious crimes (life without parole for murder, 25+ years for rape), expanding criminalization and reducing defendant rights per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing Violent Crime

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Jan 9, 2025

S 50: Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

This bill, S 50 (Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act), creates new federal crimes targeting actions that hinder border security. It makes it illegal to knowingly share law enforcement location data (like border patrol movements) to aid immigration, customs, or border control crimes, and to destroy or damage border infrastructure like fences or sensors. The bill also expands firearm penalties for individuals using guns during alien smuggling crimes, specifically linking these enhancements to violations of immigration laws. Violations carry fines, up to 10 years in prison (or 20 years if a firearm is involved), and apply to individuals directly involved in obstructing border enforcement.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new federal crimes targeting border security hindrance and expands firearm penalties for smuggling, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of expanded criminalization and harsher sentencing.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill criminalizes sharing border security data and damaging infrastructure, strengthening enforcement against smuggling - restrictive stance on immigration enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Law Enforcement Border Security

Track

in committee · United States · House Jan 9, 2025

HR 263: Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

HR 263, the Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act, creates new federal criminal penalties for actions aiding criminal groups evading border controls. It makes it a crime to knowingly transmit law enforcement locations or movements to help with immigration, customs, or border-related crimes, punishable by fines or up to 10 years in prison. The bill also criminalizes damaging or tampering with border infrastructure like fences or sensors, with penalties increasing to 20 years if a firearm is involved. These provisions directly affect individuals assisting transnational criminal organizations in circumventing U.S. border security measures. The law aims to strengthen enforcement against those who undermine border control systems.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new federal penalties for aiding border-related crimes, aligning with 'expands criminalization' indicator.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill criminalizes aiding criminal groups evading border controls and damages border infrastructure, strengthening enforcement against illegal crossings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Law Enforcement Border Security Enforcement

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