Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice

Child Protection and Anti-Human Trafficking

Anti-Exploitation and Foster Care Legislation

Issues relating to USPP officer safety, training, and compensation, including those in HR 1260, the US Park Police Modernization Act.

H.R.2853/S. 1404 - Combating Organized Retail Crime Act Draft legislation to support crime reduction FY27 appropriations for Byrne/JAG grants

GEO's political and governmental relations activities focus on promoting the use of public-private partnerships in the delivery of correctional services including evidence-based rehabilitation programs, both in-custody and post-release, aimed at reducing recidivism and helping the men and women in GEOs care successfully reintegrate into their communities. GEO does not take a position on or advocate for or against criminal justice policy related to criminalizing certain behaviors or determining the length of criminal sentences. Furthermore, GEO does not take a position on, nor advocate for or against, immigration enforcement policies such as the basis or length of an individuals detention.

Reconciliation (S. Con. Res. 33) funding for body-worn cameras, engagement on Homeland Security FY27 appropriations bills

Criminal Justice Reform

Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice In opposition to the Department of Justice (DOJ) is dismissing its case, United States v. Southwest Key Programs, Inc., W.D. Tex., No. 1:24-cv-00798 as the dismissal shields government contractors from accountability for failures of responsibility and abuse of vulnerable children. In support of immediate steps to call on the Department of Justice to provide a clear explanation of its reasons for dismissing this action against Southwest Keys and support efforts to seek accountability and justice in response to these horrific allegations of sexual abuse and harassment of children. H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act in opposition to the Federally Mandated Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. In opposition to undermining the safety protections guaranteed by federal and state laws for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, enabling domestic violence offenders to follow their victims across state lines with loaded, concealed handguns. In support of addressing the epidemic of gun violence that remains a public safety threat. In opposition to excluding transgender, intersex, and nonbinary students from school sports. In opposition to weakening anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people. H.R. 30, Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act, in opposition to the bill. In opposition to expanding the circumstances under which domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, stalking, and sex offenses would constitute grounds of inadmissibility. In opposition to expanding the definition of domestic violence to be considered in admissibility and deportability grounds. In support of expanding the accessibility of survivor-based immigration relief. In support of eliminating the cap on U and T nonimmigrant visas. In support of eliminating the cap on the number of cases eligible for final adjudications of VAWA Cancellation of Removal. In opposition to S. 5, the Laken Riley Act, especially the provision related to mandatory detention without the possibility of bond for immigrants who are arrested for misdemeanor shoplifting. In support of providing $500,000 for the Department of Homeland Security and $500,000 for the Department of Justice to maintain and publish data on 1) the number of people claiming to have a credible or reasonable fear of intimate partner violence in their home country; 2) of these people, the number that are ultimately granted asylum or withholding of removal on that basis; 3) the number of people who file asylum applications with USCIS and/or DOJ, outside of the expedited removal process, whose claims are based on a fear intimate partner violence in their home country; and 4) of these people, the number who are granted asylum or withholding of removal on that basis. Access to such data is critical for informing U.S. asylum policy. In opposition to federal funding being used to apprehend, detain, and remove benefit requesters or beneficiaries of survivor-based relief, including VAWA self-petitioner classification, T nonimmigrant status, U nonimmigrant status, or Special Immigrant Juvenile classification, which undermines the protective purpose of these programs. In support of recapturing unallocated U visas to help survivors of violence. In support of helping crime victims through supporting federal funding for the Victims of Crime Act, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. In support of members of Congress pushing back against catastrophic cuts to and Department of Justice Grants, especially Violence Against Women Act grants. In support of members of Congress demanding the Department of Justice Grants immediately reinstate all previously awarded Office of Justice Programs grants and refrain from terminating grants in any other agencies, including the Office on Violence Against Women. In support of members of Congress demanding the release of FY25 Notice of Funding Opportunities in the Department of Justice Grants, especially Violence Against Women Office, and maintaining the Office on Violence Against Women as an independent agency. In opposition to the Department of Justices termination of 360 victims services grants. In support of ensuring that there are no further federal funding cuts related to victim and survivor services and the immediate release of funds already designated by Congress for FY2025 grants that support providers and programs, preserving the Office of Violence Against Womens independence. In support of Congress conducting ongoing and rigorous oversight of DOJ to ensure transparency and stability in grantmaking, to ensure victims have access to critical services, and to promote the DOJs core mission to enhance public safety - not undermine it. In support of S.520 Supporting the Abused by Learning to Navigate Survivor (SALON) Stories Act, which increases grants to combat domestic violence for States that implement domestic violence prevention training in the cosmetologist and barber licensing process. In support of H.R. 4040 Supporting the Abused by Learning to Navigate Survivor (SALON) Stories Act, which increases grants to combat domestic violence for States that implement domestic violence prevention training in the cosmetologist and barber licensing process. In support of stabilizing the Crime Victims Fund and setting the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) "cap". In support of Victims of Crime (VOCA) Act, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) - particularly the rural grant and transitional housing programs, HUD CoC Domestic Violence Bonus Projects, and the Family Violence Prevention and Service Program (FVPSA). In support of the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025 (H.R. 909/S.1892) which redirects funds collected through the False Claims Act (FCA) into the CVF through FY 2029. In support of S.1892, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025, which stabilizes the Crime Victims Fund by allowing deposits into the fund through September 30, 2030 by using funds from the False Claims Act. In support of provide critical support for survivor focused organizations, like YWCA associations, that lost as much as 40 percent of their VOCA funding last year by addressing Crime Victims Fund (CVF) shortfalls through the redirection of funds collected through the False Claims Act (FCA) into the CVF through FY 2029. In opposition to continued layoffs affecting agencies critical to administering program and funding support to grantees that receive Victims of Crime (VOCA) Act, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) - particularly the rural grant and transitional housing programs, HUD CoC Domestic Violence Bonus Projects, and the Family Violence Prevention and Service Program (FVPSA) funding. In support of fully funding the Family Violence Prevent and Services Act (FVPSA) at $500 million dollars in FY 26 to address unmet need and rising costs, including inflation. In opposition to cutting the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant programs. In support of fully funding the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant programs at $800 million dollars in FY 26 to address unmet need and rising costs, including inflation. In support of fully funding the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Rural Grant Program at $100 million dollars in FY 26 and in opposition to any cuts to the program. In support of fully funding the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Transitional Housing Assistance Program at $100 million dollars in FY 26 and in opposition to any cuts to the program. In support of setting the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)Fund Cap at $1.9 billion. In support of fully funding the Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care (CoC) Domestic Violence (DV) Bonus Projects grant program at $75 million dollars in FY 26 and in opposition to any cuts or elimination of the program. In support of adequate funding levels for critical funding streams required to meet the needs of survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence, children and families, and the many other constituencies served by YWCA programs and services, are protected and ensure that agencies that administer critical program support and funds remain properly staffed. In support of Congress defending the policies, programs, and funding streams that support child care and early learning, domestic violence and sexual assault, and housing programs and services. In opposition to policy changes that lower or freeze critical dollars and changes aimed at reducing who can get early learning, domestic violence and sexual assault, and housing programs and services. In support of Congress providing meaningful funding levels that support early learning, domestic violence and sexual assault, and housing programs and services. In support of the Department of Education devoting necessary funding and staffing capacity for timely resolution of survivor complaints and other discrimination complaints. In support of the Department of Education ending politicized investigations targeting inclusion and safety of transgender students. In support of the Department of Education recommitting to Title IXs core promise of equal access to education for all students. In opposition to U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights (OCR) prioritizing coercing schools into banning transgender children from using the appropriate bathrooms and locker rooms. In opposition to U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights (OCR) not deploying strategies that actually protect students from sexual violence and enforcing Title IX to equitably resolving their complaints. In opposition to U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights (OCR) neglecting to protect students from actual sexual violence. In opposition to U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights (OCR) pursuing an ongoing dangerous and unlawful campaign of discriminating against transgender students under the guise of preventing sexual violence. In support of U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights (OCR) fulfilling its duties under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) In support of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA) of 2026. In support of the entire bill. In support of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA) of 2026 and increasing the funding authorization level. In support of a Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA) of 2026 grant program that increases the capacity of culturally specific community-based organizations. In support of a Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA) of 2026 provisions that promote best practices. In support of a Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA) of 2026 and its funding for national technical assistance (TA) centers. In support of a Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA) of 2026 and provisions for the National Domestic Violence Hotline and hotline services for populations, including American Indians, Alaskan Natives and Deaf survivors. In support of a Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA) of 2026 creation of an underserved grant program. In support of Congress providing robust funding for the Family Violence Prevention and Services (FVPSA). In support of Congress providing robust funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) services and programs. In support of Congress providing robust funding for the Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care (CoC) program Domestic Violene Bonus Fund. In support of Congress providing $2.05 Billion for the Victims of Crime Act( VOCA) Fund cap. In support of Congress providing a 12-mont extension of Continuum of Care (CoC) FY 24 contracts. In support of the Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 6938) and its provisions funding the Violence Against Women Axt and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) fund. In support of the Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 6938) setting the VOCA Cap Fund at $1.9 billion and allocating $720 million for VAWA. In support of Congress providing robust funding for the Family Violence Prevention and Services (FVPSA) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. In support of Congress providing robust funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) services and programs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. In support of Congress providing robust funding for the Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care (CoC) program Domestic Violene Bonus Fund in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. In support of the consolidated Appropriations, 2026 (H.R. 7148) which provides FY 2026 funding through Sept. 30, 2026 which providing funding for housing, child care, early learning (Head Start and Early Head Start), and violence against women programs and services. In support of the consolidated Appropriations, 2026 (H.R. 7148) providing $245 million for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA). In support of the consolidated Appropriations, 2026 (H.R. 7148) providing $52 million for the HUD CoC program. In support the consolidated Appropriations, 2026 (H.R. 7148) establishing a process for HUD to fund FY 2025 CoC grants if awards are not issued under a new NOFO and specifies the following: Renewals will match the prior award amount, with increases as needed to maintain project operations. Adjustments will account for cost-of-living changes in supportive services and updates to fair market rents in the geographic area. Amounts remaining after all such renewals are made shall be competitively awarded pursuant to a notice of funding opportunity. Renewals shall not render recipients ineligible for awards under any FY 2025 and FY 2026 notices of funding opportunity. In support of The Healthy Families Act and the creation of a national paid sick and safe days standard. In support of The Healthy Families Act and providing eligible workers seven job-protected paid sick days every year that can be applied to care for oneself, sick family member, a sick child, and to attend school meetings related to a childs disability or health condition. In support of The Healthy Families Act and providing survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including stalking paid leave and job-protected time to seek safety and support. In support of The Healthy Families Act provisions allowing survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including stalking to use their paid sick days to recover or seek assistance related to an incident. In opposition to making, it harder for citizens to vote - including millions of women and survivors of sexual assault domestic violence, and trafficking. In opposition to voting requirements that would harm military, tribal, and rural voters; low-income voters; survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or natural disasters who lack required documents; communities of color; and the tens of millions of people who have changed their names, including married women and survivors who did so to protect their safety.

Issues related to criminal justice Reform

Issues relating to clemency and pardons in connection with criminal convictions.