This bill would change the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. It would add a rule that says the Attorney General may not award, renew, or extend Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne JAG) to a State or unit of local government that has a law or policy that substantially limits cash bail as a possible condition for every person charged with a "covered offense." The bill defines "covered offense" to include violent or sexual crimes (for example, murder, rape, sexual assault, carjacking, robbery, burglary, and assault) and crimes that promote public disorder (for example, looting, vandalism, destruction of property, rioting or inciting to riot, and fleeing from a law enforcement officer). The grant restriction starts with the fiscal year beginning on the first October 1 after the bill becomes law and continues each fiscal year after that.
If your State or local government has a law or policy that substantially limits cash bail for the listed offenses, that State or local government would be ineligible to receive Byrne JAG grants under this part of the law. The bill text ties federal grant eligibility to local bail policies. The bill text does not itself change local bail rules.
No publicly available information about federal costs, savings, or budget estimates is included in the bill text. The bill would affect which jurisdictions qualify for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants starting with the first fiscal year after enactment.
The bill's title and text indicate that sponsors intend to prevent jurisdictions that substantially limit cash bail for covered offenses from receiving Byrne JAG grants. The change ties grant eligibility to maintaining cash-bail availability for those listed offenses.
No publicly available information.