Bill Summary
The "Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act" is legislation aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability within prosecutorial offices that receive funding under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act. The Act mandates that district attorneys and prosecutors in jurisdictions with populations of 380,000 or more submit annual reports to the Attorney General detailing specific metrics related to the prosecution of certain serious crimes, referred to as "covered offenses." These offenses include murder, rape, robbery, and various firearm-related crimes.
The required report must include data on the number of cases referred for prosecution, cases declined, plea agreements, and the status of defendants involved in these cases, among other statistics. Additionally, the Attorney General is tasked with establishing uniform reporting standards and ensuring the collected information is submitted to relevant congressional judiciary committees and made publicly accessible online. This legislation aims to improve the oversight of prosecutorial practices and the use of federal funds in combating crime.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act" could affect people:
1. **Increased Accountability for Prosecutors**: The legislation mandates that district attorneys report on the number of cases they decline to prosecute, as well as the reasons behind their decisions. This increased transparency can hold prosecutors accountable for their choices, potentially leading to changes in how they handle certain cases. For example, if a significant number of cases are declined, community members may push for changes in policy or advocate for different leadership in the prosecutor's office.
2. **Impact on Crime Victims**: By requiring reporting on cases involving serious offenses such as murder, rape, and robbery, the act may lead to more robust prosecution of these crimes. Victims of crime and their families may feel that their cases are taken more seriously and receive more attention from the legal system. This could foster a greater sense of justice and closure for victims and their communities, as well as encourage more individuals to come forward and report crimes.
3. **Changes in Bail Practices**: The requirement for prosecutors to report on charges related to bail eligibility and decisions could lead to a reassessment of how bail is handled in serious cases. This change might affect defendants' pre-trial experiences, potentially increasing the number of individuals held in custody awaiting trial. Conversely, if the data shows a high number of defendants being released on their own recognizance, it could prompt discussions about bail reform and the fairness of the system, impacting how future cases are processed and handled.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 350 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 350
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to direct
district attorney and prosecutors offices to report to the Attorney
General, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 13, 2025
Ms. Malliotakis (for herself, Mr. Weber of Texas, Ms. Van Duyne, Mr.
Ellzey, Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania, Mr. Issa, and Mr. Loudermilk)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to direct
district attorney and prosecutors offices to report to the Attorney
General, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act''.
SEC. 2. DISTRICT ATTORNEY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR BYRNE GRANTS.
Section 501 of subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10151) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections
(h) and (i), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
``(g) District Attorney Reporting Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--On an annual basis, each chief executive
of a district attorney or prosecutor's office that serves a
jurisdiction of 380,000 or more persons, which jurisdiction
receives funds under this part, shall submit to the Attorney
General a report that contains, for the previous fiscal year,
the following:
``(A) The total number of cases referred to the
office for prosecution of a covered offense.
``(B) The number of cases such office declined to
prosecute involving a covered offense.
``(C) For cases involving a covered offense that
resulted in a plea agreement reached with the
defendant--
``(i) the total number of such cases;
``(ii) the number of such cases by each
initial charge; and
``(iii) the number of such cases by each
charge of conviction.
``(D) The number of cases involving covered
offenses initiated against a defendant--
``(i) previously arrested for a covered
offense arising out of separate conduct;
``(ii) previously convicted for a covered
offense arising out of separate conduct;
``(iii) with an open case involving a
covered offense arising out of separate
conduct;
``(iv) serving a term of probation for a
conviction for a covered offense arising out of
separate conduct; and
``(v) released on parole for a conviction
for a covered offense arising out of separate
conduct.
``(E) The number of defendants charged with a
covered offense--
``(i) who were released on their own
recognizance;
``(ii) who were eligible for bail; and
``(iii) for whom the prosecutor requested
bail.
``(2) Uniform standards.--The Attorney General shall define
uniform standards for the reporting of the information required
under this subsection, including the form such reports shall
take and the process by which such reports shall be shared with
the Attorney General.
``(3) Submission to judiciary committees.--The Attorney
General shall submit the information received under this
subsection to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and
the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives
and shall publish such information on a publicly viewable
website.
``(4) Covered offense defined.--In this subsection, the
term `covered offense' means any of the following:
``(A) Murder or non-negligent manslaughter.
``(B) Forcible rape.
``(C) Robbery.
``(D) Aggravated assault.
``(E) Burglary.
``(F) Larceny.
``(G) Motor vehicle theft.
``(H) Arson.
``(I) Any offense involving the illegal use of a
firearm.
``(J) Any offense involving the illegal possession
of a firearm.''.
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