Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dick Durbin have introduced four bipartisan criminal justice bills aimed at enhancing public safety and improving the U.S. criminal justice system. The proposed legislation builds on the First Step Act, which was enacted in 2018.
“Criminals must face just penalties, and our nation’s criminal justice system should seek to prevent recidivism,” Grassley said. “I’m committed to advancing efforts that will help reduce crime, improve our nation’s justice system and safeguard American communities.”
“Seven years ago, Congress came together to pass the most important criminal justice reform law in a generation. But as its name suggests, it was just the first step,” Durbin said. “In order to keep making our justice system fairer and our communities safer, we must continue reforming our antiquated and outdated sentencing laws and providing opportunities for those who are incarcerated to prepare to reenter society successfully. I appreciate Senator Grassley’s partnership in this important endeavor.”
The four bills include the First Step Implementation Act, Safer Detention Act, Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act, and FSA Reporting Extension Act. These proposals are supported by organizations such as Right On Crime, the Conservative Political Action Conference, Americans for Prosperity, and Prison Fellowship Ministries.
Brett Tolman of Right On Crime stated: “Each of these bills strengthens public safety in a different way — by ensuring fairness at sentencing, focusing resources on dangerous individuals, and fully implementing reforms that reduce recidivism. Together, they move the federal system toward a smarter, more accountable, and more effective approach to public safety.”
Rachel Wright from Right On Crime added: “These solutions complement one another and point in the same direction: a justice system that is more focused on actual risk, more respectful of constitutional limits, and more effective at reducing crime. That’s the type of system communities can trust.”
The First Step Implementation Act would allow courts to apply certain sentencing reforms retroactively; provide judicial discretion for nonviolent controlled substance offenders; permit sentence reductions for juvenile offenders who have served over 20 years; enable sealing or expungement of records for nonviolent juvenile offenses; and require accurate sharing of criminal records for employment purposes.
The Safer Detention Act proposes reauthorizing an expired program for elderly home detention while clarifying compassionate release guidelines from federal prisons.
The Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act would prevent courts from considering conduct defendants were acquitted of during sentencing.
The FSA Reporting Extension Act aims to extend annual reporting requirements related to First Step Act implementation through 2030.
As a standing committee within the legislative branch based in Washington D.C., the Senate Judiciary Committee oversees federal law enforcement agencies and reviews legislation affecting constitutional protections nationwide. The committee includes senators from both major parties who influence civil rights policy through oversight duties spanning judicial nominations as well as legal matters across the country.
