Criminal Justice

passed · United States · Senate Jun 15, 2026

S 1890: Carla Walker Act

The Carla Walker Act establishes two competitive grant programs to fund forensic DNA analysis and equipment for public law enforcement and medical examiner offices. It provides $5 million annually (2025-2029) for eligible entities like state police, prosecutors' offices, medical examiners, and coroners to purchase equipment or conduct whole-genome sequencing (testing 100,000+ genetic markers) to solve cold cases or identify unknown remains when standard DNA databases fail. Grants cannot cover staffing, travel, or general equipment but require compliance with DOJ’s 2019 forensic genealogy policy and mandate detailed annual reports on case outcomes. The law aims to improve investigative capabilities through specialized forensic genetic genealogy while maintaining strict oversight and reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds forensic DNA analysis to solve cold cases, directly supporting law enforcement within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · United States · House May 13, 2025

HR 3366: EAGLE Act of 2025

The EAGLE Act of 2025 establishes a $10 million federal grant program to help small local law enforcement agencies (under 350 employees) pay for accredited certification. Agencies must apply demonstrating financial need and specify costs for accreditation fees, on-site assessments, or extension fees charged by recognized bodies like CALEA. Grant funds cover only direct costs related to achieving or maintaining accredited status, not general operations. The program requires the Attorney General to set up the grants within 90 days of the bill becoming law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds accreditation for small law enforcement agencies, promoting accountability and professional standards per CALEA requirements, directly advancing law enforcement quality within criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds cybersecurity accreditation for law enforcement, enhancing local agency capabilities to protect communities through technology standards.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · United States · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3625: Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026

This bill would remove "qualified immunity" as a legal defense for law enforcement officers in civil rights lawsuits. It amends federal law (42 U.S.C. 1983) to eliminate four specific excuses officers can currently use, including claiming they reasonably believed their actions were lawful or that constitutional rights weren't clearly established. The change applies to all lawsuits filed after enactment against federal, state, or local police officers who acted under official authority. This means officers could face civil liability for constitutional violations even if they thought their conduct was lawful at the time.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves qualified immunity, increasing police accountability in civil rights lawsuits - directly advancing criminal justice reform through enhanced oversight and protection of civil rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Policing Tags Civil Liberties

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in committee · United States · House Mar 31, 2025

HR 2502: Law Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crisis Response Act of 2025

This bill establishes a federal grant program to fund mental health crisis response training for law enforcement and corrections officers. It provides up to $10 million annually for state, local, and tribal agencies to cover training costs, including travel and lodging, for officers responding to mental health crises. The training must be evidence-based, developed with healthcare professionals and people with lived mental health experience, and cover de-escalation, empathy, community resources, and safety protocols. Agencies applying must demonstrate current training gaps, officer safety records, and how the training will reduce injuries to officers and the public during mental health emergencies. The grants are supplemental to existing funding and require annual reporting on training participation and outcomes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds evidence-based mental health crisis training for law enforcement, promoting de-escalation and reducing use of force. Aligns with criminal justice reform goals to improve officer response and protect individuals with mental health condit...95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds evidence-based mental health crisis response training for law enforcement, developed with healthcare professionals to improve patient access and de-escalation during mental health crises.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Jan 16, 2025

HR 520: Empowering Law Enforcement To Fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act of 2025

HR 520 allows law enforcement agencies to use Byrne JAG funds for programs specifically targeting the demand behind sex trafficking, such as initiatives aimed at reducing the market for commercial sex acts involving trafficked individuals. This bill amends existing federal funding rules to explicitly authorize these funds for "programs to combat human trafficking (including programs to reduce the demand for trafficked persons)." It directly affects state and local law enforcement agencies that receive Byrne JAG grants by expanding how they can allocate those resources. The key change is creating a dedicated funding category for demand reduction efforts, moving beyond solely supporting victim services or investigations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly authorizes Byrne JAG funds for demand-reduction programs targeting sex trafficking, strengthening law enforcement's ability to combat human trafficking through targeted funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

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in committee · United States · House Jun 10, 2025

HR 59: Mens Rea Reform Act of 2025

This bill establishes a default rule for federal criminal prosecutions: prosecutors must prove beyond reasonable doubt that defendants knowingly acted unlawfully for most offenses. It applies to all federal crimes punishable by imprisonment or a $2,500+ fine (excluding certain military offenses and jurisdictional elements), requiring proof of awareness of unlawfulness unless the law specifies a different mental state. The rule affects nearly all federal criminal defendants by clarifying that "knowingly" is the default standard for unaddressed elements of a crime. The law applies to cases filed after its enactment, with limited exceptions for retroactive application to prior cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires prosecutors to prove defendant's awareness of unlawfulness, strengthening due process and reducing wrongful convictions in federal cases.95% confidence

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in committee · United States · Senate Dec 9, 2025

S 3394: SAFE Act

Sentencing Accountability For Exploitation Act or the SAFE Act This bill directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend its guidelines and policy statements applicable to federal criminal offenses involving the production, receipt, transport, shipment, or distribution of child sexual abuse material to (1) account for the actual and potential harm from the offense and changes since the last amendments with respect to the typical offense behavior and modern technologies, and (2) better reflect the spectrum of offender culpability.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends sentencing guidelines to better reflect harm and modern tech in child exploitation cases, promoting fairer sentencing under criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Sentencing

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SRES 189: A resolution expressing support for the designation of April 1, 2025, through April 30, 2025, as "Fair Chance Jobs Month".

This resolution (SRES 189) is a symbolic Senate measure expressing support for designating April 1-30, 2025, as "Fair Chance Jobs Month." It does not create new law but aims to raise awareness about employment barriers faced by people with criminal records, including systemic hiring restrictions and lack of access to licenses or stable jobs. The resolution urges efforts to dismantle these barriers, expand workforce programs for returning citizens, and promote fair-chance hiring practices. It directly affects formerly incarcerated individuals and employers seeking to hire them, focusing on policy changes like reducing licensing restrictions and connecting job seekers with opportunities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes fair-chance hiring for people with criminal records, directly advancing criminal justice reform by addressing employment barriers linked to recidivism reduction.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentResolution promotes fair-chance hiring to remove employment barriers for people with criminal records, advancing workers' rights and employment standards through awareness and policy advocacy.95% confidence

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passed · United States · Senate Jan 29, 2025

SRES 46: A resolution raising awareness and encouraging the prevention of stalking by designating January 2025 as "National Stalking Awareness Month".

SRES 46 designates January 2025 as "National Stalking Awareness Month" to promote public education about stalking. The resolution highlights stalking's prevalence (affecting 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men in the U.S.) and encourages efforts by victim services, law enforcement, schools, and organizations to support victims and improve responses. It does not create new laws but urges increased awareness and resource availability through coordinated community action during this designated month.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEncourages law enforcement and victim services to improve stalking response through awareness, aligning with criminal justice reform goals like victim support and accountability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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in committee · United States · House Dec 17, 2025

HR 6789: Federal Prisons Naloxone Access Act of 2025

HR 6789, the Federal Prisons Naloxone Access Act of 2025, requires federal prisons to maintain naloxone kits in all correctional facilities, including medical units, staff areas, and common spaces where incarcerated people gather. The bill mandates annual training for staff and incarcerated individuals on opioid overdose recognition and kit use, ensures proper storage and expiration checks, and requires detailed documentation of each kit administration. It also prohibits holding incarcerated people liable for good-faith naloxone use during an overdose and requires annual reports to Congress on kit availability, overdose incidents, training, and expired kits. The law authorizes $6 million for 2026 and $2 million annually through 2028 for implementation, including kit purchases and training.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires naloxone access and training in federal prisons to prevent opioid overdoses, improving health outcomes and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates naloxone access and training in federal prisons to prevent opioid overdose deaths, directly advancing public health services and improving patient access to life-saving care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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