Restoring Law and Order Act

Summary#

This bill would change parts of Title 18 of the U.S. Code to allow civil commitment not only for "sexually dangerous" people but also for people the law calls "a danger to public safety." It adds new legal definitions for that phrase, for "danger to the public," "urban camping," and "urban squatting." The Attorney General or the Bureau of Prisons would have to evaluate people described in the law who were homeless immediately before entering federal custody or before criminal charges were dismissed for reasons related to their mental condition to decide whether to certify them as sexually dangerous or as a person who is a danger to public safety.

What it means for you#

• The changes apply to people under the parts of Title 18 that deal with civil commitment and related federal procedures.
• Federal authorities would be able to evaluate and potentially certify people as a danger to public safety, using the new definitions in the bill.
• The bill specifically directs an evaluation for people who were homeless just before entering custody or before certain dismissals tied to mental condition.
• New behavior categories in the statute include crimes of violence, burglary/robbery/larceny, certain public drug offenses, vandalism, and "urban camping" or "urban squatting." "Urban camping" is defined as sleeping or residing more than 24 hours in one place outdoors using temporary shelter or a vehicle; "urban squatting" is occupying vacant or abandoned property without permission.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs or funding is included in the bill text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text describing supporters' statements or arguments.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text describing opponents' statements or arguments.