Criminal Justice (Corrections)

in committee · United States · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 1205: Safe Shelters Act of 2025

The Safe Shelters Act of 2025 requires sex offenders mandated to register on the National Sex Offender Registry (under the Adam Walsh Act) to notify shelter staff if they enter a regular emergency shelter during a disaster. It prohibits these offenders from using undesignated shelters without immediate notification, with penalties including fines or up to 5 years in prison for noncompliance. The bill directs FEMA to designate specific federal buildings or prisons as shelters *only* for these offenders during disasters, requiring agencies to share lists of designated shelters with all shelter operators. This directly affects registered sex offenders and emergency shelter managers, creating a new system to separate shelter access during crises. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill imposes new penalties (fines, up to 5 years) for sex offenders not notifying shelter staff during disasters, expanding criminalization and increasing mandatory sentences.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Tags Emergency Management

Track

in committee · United States · House Feb 11, 2026

HR 7491: Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

HR 7491, the Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act, protects attorney-client communications for incarcerated people by prohibiting government monitoring of their electronic messages with lawyers. The bill requires the Attorney General to create or modify a secure system within 180 days that excludes privileged communications from monitoring, while allowing retention of these messages until the person’s release. It mandates strict safeguards: law enforcement can only access retained communications with a court-issued warrant (requiring U.S. Attorney approval), and a U.S. Attorney must review messages first to ensure privileged content isn’t accessed; they’re also barred from participating in related legal cases. This directly affects incarcerated individuals communicating digitally with their attorneys or legal representatives, including through systems like the Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects attorney-client privilege for incarcerated individuals, advancing defendant rights and fair legal representation in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates secure system to protect attorney-client digital communications from government monitoring, directly enhancing data privacy safeguards in digital communications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Law Enforcement

Track

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

Track

in committee · United States · House Jan 15, 2026

HR 7125: Stop Body Camera Paywalls Act

HR 7125, the Stop Body Camera Paywalls Act, requires states and local governments seeking certain federal law enforcement grants to certify they do not charge fees for public access to body camera footage, dash camera footage, or prison surveillance recordings. To qualify for Byrne or COPS grant programs, applicants must confirm no financial barriers exist for the public requesting these specific video recordings. The bill makes certification mandatory for grant eligibility, directly affecting law enforcement agencies receiving federal funds under these programs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves paywalls for public body camera access, enhancing police accountability and transparency in law enforcement, directly aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRemoves financial barriers for public access to body camera footage (digital surveillance data), enhancing transparency and digital rights access as required for federal grants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

Track

in committee · United States · House Feb 4, 2026

HR 7375: End Prison Gerrymandering Act

HR 7375, the End Prison Gerrymandering Act, changes how incarcerated individuals are counted in the U.S. Census starting with the 2030 census. It requires the Census Bureau to count people in prison at their last known residence before incarceration, rather than at the prison location. This directly affects incarcerated individuals and their home communities, ensuring these communities are accurately represented in congressional redistricting. States must then use this home address data when drawing congressional districts, preventing prison populations from artificially inflating representation in rural areas where prisons are often located.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnds prison gerrymandering by counting incarcerated people at home address, ensuring fairer representation for communities affected by incarceration, a key criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2025

S 2155: Keeping Gun Dealers Honest Act of 2025

The Keeping Gun Dealers Honest Act of 2025 requires gun dealers to undergo three federal inspections annually (up from one) and increases penalties for violations, raising the maximum prison sentence from one to five years. It mandates secure firearm storage at dealerships and imposes civil fines of up to $10,000 per violation for noncompliance, including for transferring armor-piercing ammunition. The law allows the federal government to suspend a dealer's license or require a physical inventory of firearms if they unlawfully transfer a gun or 10+ crime guns are traced to them. Additionally, it mandates hiring 80 new ATF staff and requires biennial congressional reports on implementation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens gun dealer oversight to prevent illegal transfers, supporting crime prevention goals of criminal justice system.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms

Track

in committee · United States · House Jul 17, 2025

HR 4472: Stop COYOTES Act

The Stop COYOTES Act (HR 4472) increases penalties for certain crimes involving minors by adding up to 10 years in prison for offenders who commit felonies against children within 1,000 feet of schools, colleges, or youth facilities like playgrounds. It also raises maximum fines for fentanyl-related drug offenses under the Controlled Substances Act and requires federal agencies to share border crime data - including human trafficking, smuggling, and drug trafficking - with state and local law enforcement near U.S. borders. This bill directly affects individuals convicted of these specific offenses and mandates regular reports to Congress on border-related criminal activity.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for crimes against minors near schools (up to 10 years); raises drug offense fines - aligns with OPPOSE indicators of expanded criminalization.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · United States · House Jul 25, 2025

HR 4755: LEO K9 Protection Act

This bill strengthens protections for police dogs and horses used in law enforcement by increasing penalties for harming them, including up to 15 years in prison for using deadly weapons. It requires the Transportation Secretary to create emergency medical guidelines for treating injured police animals and establish regulations allowing their transport to veterinary facilities without waiting for human patients. The rules ensure emergency medical personnel can provide care to police dogs during transport or at the scene of an incident. These changes apply to dogs and horses serving federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies in roles like crime detection, disaster response, or military operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens law enforcement animal protections, enhancing officer safety and operational capabilities within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

Track

in committee · United States · House Jan 15, 2026

HR 7111: Correctional Facility Disaster Preparedness Act of 2026

The Correctional Facility Disaster Preparedness Act of 2026 requires the Bureau of Prisons to annually report on the impacts of major disasters (like natural disasters or public health emergencies) at federal correctional facilities and contract prisons. The report must detail effects on inmate/staff safety, access to medical care, food, water, visitation, disability accommodations, and financial costs, along with a corrective action plan for improving emergency preparedness. It also mandates the National Institute of Corrections to hold a public hearing within one year to evaluate how facilities can better incorporate specific emergency planning measures - such as medical access, early release considerations, and visitation protocols - into their disaster response. This legislation directly affects federal prisons, contract facilities, and the 150,000+ inmates and staff within them, aiming to standardize transparency and response protocols during crises.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires annual disaster preparedness reports for federal prisons, enhancing inmate safety and facility accountability in corrections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Tags Emergency Management

Track

in committee · United States · House Jun 24, 2025

HR 4103: Break the Cycle of Violence Act

This bill creates federal funding for community-based violence intervention programs in high-violence areas, targeting communities with 35+ homicides annually or 20+ homicides with rates double the national average. It establishes grants for community organizations to implement trauma-informed violence interruption strategies, hospital-based programs for injured patients, and job training for "opportunity youth" (16-25 year olds not in school or work). The legislation authorizes $300 million in 2026, increasing to $700 million annually through 2033, with requirements for evidence-based approaches that reduce violence without contributing to mass incarceration. It creates a National Community Violence Response Center to coordinate data collection, research, and best practices for these programs. The focus is on prevention through economic opportunity, trauma care, and community-driven interventions rather than traditional law enforcement approaches.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds community violence intervention, trauma-informed programs, and job training for youth to reduce recidivism and promote reform.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides job training for opportunity youth (not in school/work), supporting educational access and workforce development.80% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds hospital-based trauma programs and violence interruption services, directly advancing healthcare access and mental health support in high-violence communities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Hospitals

Track