Grassley, Durbin Reintroduce Bipartisan Criminal Justice Bills

WASHINGTON– Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced four bipartisan criminal justice bills to better protect American communities and strengthen the nation’s criminal justice system. TheFirst Step Implementation Act, theSafer Detention Act, theProhibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Actand theFSA Reporting Extension Acteachbuild off the successes of the lawmakers’First Step Act(FSA), which President Trump signed into law in 2018.
“Criminals must face just penalties, and our nation’s criminal justice system should seek to prevent recidivism,”Grassley said. “I’m committed to advancing efforts that will help reduce crime, improve our nation’s justice system and safeguard American communities.”
“Seven years ago, Congress came together to pass the most important criminal justice reform law in a generation. But as its name suggests, it was just the first step,”Durbin said. “In order to keep making our justice system fairer and our communities safer, we must continue reforming our antiquated and outdated sentencing laws and providing opportunities for those who are incarcerated to prepare to reenter society successfully. I appreciate Senator Grassley’s partnership in this important endeavor.”
TheFirst Step Implementation Act, theSafer Detention Actand theProhibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Actare endorsed by Right On Crime, the Conservative Political Action Conference and Americans for Prosperity. A full list of endorsements is availableHERE.
“Each of these bills strengthens public safety in a different way — by ensuring fairness at sentencing, focusing resources on dangerous individuals, and fully implementing reforms that reduce recidivism. Together, they move the federal system toward a smarter, more accountable, and more effective approach to public safety,”said Brett Tolman, Executive Director for Right On Crime.
“These solutions complement one another and point in the same direction: a justice system that is more focused on actual risk, more respectful of constitutional limits, and more effective at reducing crime. That’s the type of system communities can trust,”said Rachel Wright, National Policy Director for Right On Crime.
TheFirst Step Implementation Act:
TheFirst Step Implementation Actwould strengthen theFirst Step Actby:
This legislation is also endorsed by the Prison Fellowship Ministries.
Bill text is availableHERE.
TheSafer Detention Act:
TheSafer Detention Actwould reauthorize and reform the now-expired Elderly Home Detention Pilot Program and clarify applicability of compassionate release from federal prisons.?
This legislation is also endorsed by the Prison Fellowship Ministries.
Bill text is availableHERE.
Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act
TheProhibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Actwould prohibit courts from considering conduct defendants have been acquitted of for sentencing purposes.
Bill text is availableHERE.
FSA Reporting Extension Act
TheFSA Reporting Extension Actwould extend theFirst Step Act’sannual reporting requirement by five years.
TheFirst Step Actrequired the Attorney General to submit annual reports to Congress on the bill’s implementation and impact for five consecutive years, starting two years after implementation. TheFSA Reporting Extension Actwould extend this reporting through 2030.
Bill text is availableHERE.
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