YourVoice.Now Summary
Criminal Justice & Due ProcessStates that limit cash bail for a broad list of charges — including vandalism and fleeing police — would lose federal justice grants.
Criminal Justice & Due Process
- Byrne JAG eligibility — Removed for states and localities that substantially limit cash bail
- Cash bail availability — Must remain a possible condition for every person charged with a covered offense
- Covered-offense definition — Extends past violent crime to vandalism, property damage and fleeing an officer
- Covered-offense definition — Written as an open list of examples rather than a closed set
The details
States and local governments that limit cash bail would be cut off from a major federal grant. The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant is the largest federal funding source for state and local criminal justice programs. It pays for equipment, drug task forces, prosecution, courts, and crime prevention. Starting the first fiscal year after enactment, the Attorney General could not award, renew, or extend that grant to any state or locality whose law or policy substantially limits cash bail for a covered offense. The list of covered offenses runs wider than violent crime. It includes murder, rape, sexual assault, carjacking, robbery, burglary, and assault. It also includes offenses described as promoting public disorder — looting, vandalism, destruction of property, rioting or inciting to riot, and fleeing from a law enforcement officer. The definition is written as "including" those examples rather than limited to them. A jurisdiction would have to keep cash bail available as a possible condition for every person charged with any covered offense to stay eligible.
Congressional Summary
Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets ActThis bill prohibits the receipt of funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program by a state or local government that has in effect a law or policy that substantially limits cash bail for individuals who are charged with certain criminal offenses that pose a clear threat to public safety and order.Under the bill, the criminal offenses that pose a threat to public safety and order include criminal offenses involving a violent or sexual act (e.g., burglary, murder, or rape) and offenses that promote public disorder (e.g., looting or vandalism).
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-09-04
- Date Added
- 2026-07-29
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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