Criminal Justice (Civil Rights) in United States

in committee · United States · Senate May 19, 2026

S 4576: Jewish American Security Act

The Jewish American Security Act aims to combat antisemitism by strengthening protections for Jewish students, securing Jewish communities, and increasing transparency regarding online hate speech. To support Jewish students, the bill requires schools receiving federal funds to designate coordinators for civil rights complaints, issue annual reminders about anti-discrimination policies, and publish detailed data on bias-related incidents. For community safety, the legislation increases funding for security grants for religious institutions and mandates joint annual threat assessments from federal agencies to track domestic and transnational antisemitic violence. Additionally, the act requires major online platforms to submit regular transparency reports detailing how they detect, remove, and moderate antisemitic content on their sites.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

in committee · United States · House May 29, 2026

HR 9066: Community-Based Approaches to Prevent and Address Hate Crimes Act of 2026

This bill establishes a $30 million grant program over five years to fund community-based organizations working to prevent and address hate crimes. The funds can be used for various initiatives, including conflict resolution strategies, non-carceral sentencing programs, public education campaigns, and support services for victims and defendants. Eligible recipients must be nonprofits embedded within communities targeted by hate crimes that provide educational, health, and social services. Additionally, the legislation removes a specific spending limit on grants for criminal investigations and prosecutions related to these crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Sentencing

in committee · United States · House May 20, 2026

HR 8932: Hate Crimes Commission Act of 2026

The Hate Crimes Commission Act of 2026 establishes a temporary United States Commission on Hate Crimes to investigate the rising number of bias-motivated incidents and improve how they are reported. The ten-member commission, appointed by congressional leaders and the Attorney General, will examine factors like social media's role in hate crimes and identify barriers preventing local law enforcement from fully participating in federal reporting systems. Within one year of its formation, the commission must submit a report to Congress and the President with findings and recommendations for better prevention and data collection. Additionally, the bill requires an independent audit by the Government Accountability Office to verify the accuracy of hate crime data collected by the FBI.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

in committee · United States · Senate May 20, 2026

S 4596: TRUST Act

The TRUST Act establishes new hiring standards and operational rules for U.S. immigration enforcement officers to improve professionalism and transparency. It raises the minimum age requirement to 21, mandates comprehensive background checks including social media reviews, and requires specialized training on de-escalation, civil rights, and preventing discrimination. The legislation also mandates that officers wear uniforms and badges only while on duty, carry official identification, and use body-worn cameras during public interactions, with strict penalties for failing to record or tampering with footage. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to release unedited video recordings of incidents involving misconduct or serious injury to the public within a specified timeframe.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · United States · Senate May 20, 2026

S 4589: OPEN Act

The OPEN Act establishes new oversight and accountability measures for immigration enforcement by granting Members of Congress unrestricted, unannounced access to all immigration detention facilities and requiring the Department of Homeland Security to publicly report incidents involving excessive force or misconduct. It mandates specific rights for detained individuals, including timely notification of family members, guaranteed access to legal counsel and medical care within set timeframes, and strict regulations on transfers and transportation conditions. The legislation also restricts the use of administrative warrants for entering private residences, requires judicial warrants for most arrests and detentions, and imposes financial penalties on contractors who fail to meet federal detention standards. Additionally, the bill reconstitutes the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within the Department and requires rigorous independent inspections before any new detention centers can begin operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · United States · House May 13, 2026

HR 8754: No Delay for Immigration Oversight Act

The No Delay for Immigration Oversight Act mandates that the Department of Homeland Security immediately grant Members of Congress access to immigration detention facilities for oversight purposes. This legislation requires all federal contractors operating these facilities to certify that their staff are trained to comply with these access rules and allows the department to cancel contracts with entities that fail to do so. By defining "without delay" as immediate admission, the bill ensures that lawmakers can inspect facilities without waiting outside or providing prior notice. Ultimately, the law aims to uphold congressional authority to monitor the humane treatment and civil rights of detainees within these centers.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

in committee · United States · House Apr 30, 2026

HRES 1249: Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights

This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' sense that the United States must permanently end the unhoused crisis by 2029 while protecting the civil and human rights of unhoused individuals. It calls for specific actions such as allocating billions of dollars in funding for affordable housing, expanding access to healthcare and food assistance, and removing barriers that prevent people with criminal records from receiving public services. The text also urges the government to decriminalize behaviors like sleeping in public or panhandling, prohibit discrimination based on housing status, and establish legal protections for those providing services to unhoused communities. Additionally, it requests the creation of more accurate methods for counting the unhoused population and mandates annual reports on law enforcement interactions with this population.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Affordable Housing Homelessness

in committee · United States · Senate May 20, 2026

S 4598: Hate Crimes Commission Act of 2026

The Hate Crimes Commission Act of 2026 creates a temporary United States Commission on Hate Crimes to investigate the causes of rising hate crimes and improve how they are reported. This 10-member commission will include representatives from law enforcement, civil rights organizations, and both major political parties, and it will meet for one year to study factors like social media influence and barriers to data collection. After its investigation, the commission must submit a report to Congress and the President with specific recommendations for federal agencies to enhance reporting accuracy and prevent bias-motivated violence. Additionally, the bill requires an independent audit by the Government Accountability Office to verify the accuracy of hate crime data currently collected by the FBI. The commission and the audit are designed to be temporary measures that end once their reports are delivered.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement

in committee · United States · House May 20, 2026

HR 8940: Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act

The Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act bans the imposition of the death penalty for any federal crime committed after the law takes effect. It also requires that individuals currently sentenced to death under federal law be resentenced to a different punishment. This legislation directly affects the federal criminal justice system by eliminating capital punishment as a sentencing option.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Sentencing

in committee · United States · House Apr 15, 2026

HRES 1178: Commemorating the 5-year remembrance of the April 15, 2021, mass shooting at a FedEx Ground facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, and denouncing all forms of anti-Asian hate, including the resurgence of xenophobic and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

This resolution commemorates the fifth anniversary of the April 15, 2021, mass shooting in Indianapolis that killed eight people, including four members of the Sikh community, and denounces anti-Asian hate and xenophobic rhetoric. It formally condemns violence and discrimination against South Asian Americans, Arabs, Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, while also criticizing white supremacist ideology and anti-immigrant policies. The bill calls for expanded federal hate crime data collection and prevention programs, restoration of immigration processing, and reaffirms the government's commitment to protecting civil rights. As a House resolution, it expresses congressional sentiment and recommendations rather than enacting new laws or regulations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

All criminal justice bills