Sponsors (7)
The bill provides modest federal funding and incentives for reentry programs and police staffing/community‑police initiatives, but ties those funds to bail- and policing-related conditions that risk expanding pretrial detention and shifting resources away from social services.
Local and state law enforcement agencies and prosecutors may gain resources to expand hiring and retention, potentially improving staffing levels and reducing response times and case backlogs.
State and local governments can access up to $10 million per year (FY2026–2031) to fund Second Chance Act reentry and recidivism-reduction programs, increasing services for people returning from incarceration and support capacity for reentry providers.
Communities and police departments may receive support for programs to improve community–police relations through education and outreach, which could reduce tensions and enhance public safety locally.
Defendants—particularly low-income people and racial and ethnic minorities—face greater risk of expanded pretrial detention because grants are tied to allowing courts to consider 'danger to the community' at bail and to enacting related statutes, which may increase pretrial incarceration and exacerbate disparities.
States and localities may prioritize hiring, bail-related law changes, or law‑enforcement-focused messaging to qualify for grants, shifting resources away from social services and rehabilitation programs that support low-income and vulnerable populations.
The $10 million per year authorization increases federal spending and could require tradeoffs with other programs or budget priorities if appropriated.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a DOJ grant program that ties eligibility to allowing courts to consider community danger in pretrial release and to certain law enforcement hiring or public education actions; $10M/year authorized for 2026–2031.
Authorizes a Department of Justice grant program that will give money to states and local governments to support activities tied to pretrial release and public safety. To get grants, jurisdictions must allow courts to consider community danger when setting bail or pretrial release and must have taken at least one of three actions the prior year: pass enabling law, expand law enforcement/prosecutor hiring or retention, or run a public education program about police-community relations. Grants are to be made by the Attorney General through the Bureau of Justice Assistance and are authorized at $10 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2031. Key terms are defined by reference to an existing federal statute (Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act).
Introduced January 3, 2025 by Claudia Tenney · Last progress January 3, 2025