Criminal Justice (Victims' Rights)

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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in committee · United States · House Nov 20, 2025

HR 6227: Human Trafficking Survivor Tax Relief Act

HR 6227, the Human Trafficking Survivor Tax Relief Act, exempts certain compensation received by human trafficking survivors from federal income tax. Specifically, it excludes restitution or civil damages awarded under federal trafficking laws (18 U.S.C. §§1593 and 1595) from taxable income. This applies to payments survivors receive as compensation for trafficking, including criminal restitution or civil damages from lawsuits. The bill directly benefits survivors who receive these specific awards, ensuring they retain more of their compensation. The tax exclusion applies to taxable years beginning after the bill’s enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts trafficking survivors' restitution from federal income tax, providing direct tax relief for vulnerable individuals per 18 U.S.C. §§1593/1595.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts trafficking survivors' restitution from taxes, supporting victim recovery and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like protecting civil rights.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Human Trafficking Victims' Rights

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in committee · United States · House Aug 8, 2025

HR 4946: Epstein Crime Victims Act

HR 4946, the Epstein Crime Victims Act, expands rights for crime victims by requiring prosecutors to notify them about plea bargains, deferred prosecutions, or agreements not to prosecute. It directly affects victims in cases where prosecutors enter such agreements. The bill amends federal law to add "nonprosecution agreement" to notification requirements and creates a new right for victims to sue the government in court if they aren’t notified promptly. This provides victims with a concrete legal remedy when their notification rights are violated. The law applies broadly to all federal criminal cases involving these agreements, not just cases related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands victim notification rights in prosecutorial agreements, strengthening protections within criminal justice system per bill's notification requirements and new lawsuit right for victims.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Human Trafficking Victims' Rights

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 11, 2025

S 516: SHIELD Act of 2023

The SHIELD Act of 2023 makes it a federal crime to knowingly distribute intimate visual depictions (like private photos or videos) without consent when the person had a reasonable expectation of privacy, the image wasn’t voluntarily shared in public, and the distribution causes harm (e.g., psychological or reputational damage). It specifically targets non-consensual sharing of intimate images of adults and prohibits distributing images of minors for abuse or sexual gratification, with penalties of up to 2 years in prison for adults and 3 years for minors. The law includes exceptions for law enforcement, legitimate reporting, medical/educational use, and legal proceedings. It does not apply to platforms that host user content unless they intentionally promote such material.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates federal crime for non-consensual intimate image distribution, enhancing victim protection and civil rights within criminal justice framework.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyThe bill explicitly protects data privacy by criminalizing non-consensual sharing of intimate images, directly addressing digital rights and privacy in technology contexts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

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in committee · United States · House Jan 22, 2026

HR 7225: Protecting Child Sex Trafficking Victim Witnesses Act

HR 7225, the Protecting Child Sex Trafficking Victim Witnesses Act, requires the Attorney General to develop and publish victim-centered guidance within 18 months to protect child sex trafficking victims who testify. This guidance covers safe travel, lodging, use of child advocacy centers, and safety planning - both during and after trial. Federal prosecutors, law enforcement, and judges must then receive training on this guidance within 180 days of its release. The bill also updates federal law to include digital recording options for testimony and modernizes definitions to better reflect child trafficking protections.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates victim-centered guidance and training for prosecutors/law enforcement to protect child trafficking witnesses, enhancing victim safety within criminal justice system operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

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in committee · United States · House Jul 29, 2025

HR 4817: Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2025

The Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2025 helps immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other crimes who qualify for protections under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). It eliminates annual limits on U visas and special immigrant juvenile visas, grants work authorization within 180 days of filing an application, and prohibits deportation or detention while cases are pending. The bill requires victims to be released from detention unless the government proves they pose a specific threat or may skip court, with clear evidence needed to override this presumption. This directly affects immigrant victims seeking legal relief in the U.S. as they navigate their cases without fear of immediate removal.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEliminates visa limits and prohibits deportation for immigrant victims under VAWA/TVPA, enhancing victim protections and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationEliminates visa limits, grants work authorization, prohibits deportation for immigrant victims under VAWA/TVPA, directly protecting immigrant rights and services.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants work authorization within 180 days and prohibits deportation for immigrant victims, directly enabling employment access and protecting workers' rights under VAWA/TVPA.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Human Trafficking Victims' Rights Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · United States · House Feb 10, 2026

HR 7467: Virginia’s Law

This federal bill (HR 7467) adds civil remedies for victims of specific federal crimes, primarily sexual abuse (18 U.S.C. §§ 2241-2243) and sex trafficking-related transportation crimes (18 U.S.C. §§ 2421-2423). It allows victims to sue perpetrators for damages and legal costs in federal court, with key changes to time limits: most cases must be filed within 10 years of the offense or until the victim turns 18 (if a minor), but no time limit applies to cases involving the specified sections. Civil lawsuits must pause during related criminal trials. The bill directly affects victims of these crimes, particularly minors, by expanding legal options for seeking compensation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands civil remedies for victims of sexual abuse/trafficking, aligning with victim protection and civil rights in criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Human Trafficking Victims' Rights

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in committee · United States · House Sep 18, 2025

HR 5477: Litigation Reimbursement Act

HR 5477, the Litigation Reimbursement Act, requires courts to automatically award attorney fees and litigation costs to winning parties in certain cases. It changes criminal case rules (amending 18 U.S.C. 3006A) so courts must award fees to defendants who win at trial and are not convicted, rather than allowing judges discretion. It also makes such fee awards mandatory in civil cases (amending 28 U.S.C. § 2412), replacing "may be awarded" with "shall be awarded" for prevailing parties. The bill directly affects individuals or entities that prevail in federal criminal trials resulting in non-convictions or in federal civil litigation. This is a procedural change to existing fee-shifting rules, not a substantive policy shift.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates automatic attorney fee awards for winning criminal defendants, protecting civil rights and reducing financial barriers to justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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