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Federal Legislation We Support, 118th Congress

S. 524 / H.R. 1062 - EQUAL Act

S.129 / H.R. 639 - Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act

S.129 / H.R. 639 - Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act

Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law (EQUAL) Act eliminates the federal prison sentence disparity between crack cocaine and powdered cocaine offenses by equalizing the treatment between the two in sentencing and reducing the ratio from 18:1 to 1:1. The bill also makes this reform retroactive through individualized case review by federal courts.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill. 

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S.129 / H.R. 639 - Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act

S.129 / H.R. 639 - Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act

S.129 / H.R. 639 - Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act

This legislation would prohibit detention or imprisonment based solely on an actual or perceived protected characteristic of an individual.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bill. 

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S. 137 / H.R. 640 - Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act

S.129 / H.R. 639 - Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act

S. 137 / H.R. 640 - Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act


This legislation would honor Fred Korematsu for his decades-long fight for justice, and will serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting civil liberties for all Americans.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bill. 

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Federal Legislation We Oppose, 118th Congress

S. 281 / H.R. 27 - Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act

S.J.Res. 12 / H.J.Res. 26 - Disapproving the action of the DC Council in approving the RCCA of 2023

S.J.Res. 12 / H.J.Res. 26 - Disapproving the action of the DC Council in approving the RCCA of 2023

This legislation would require certain state and local prosecutors to report data on criminal referrals and outcomes of cases involving murder or non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson, or any offense involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm.

Due Process Institute OPPOSES this bill. 

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S.J.Res. 12 / H.J.Res. 26 - Disapproving the action of the DC Council in approving the RCCA of 2023

S.J.Res. 12 / H.J.Res. 26 - Disapproving the action of the DC Council in approving the RCCA of 2023

S.J.Res. 12 / H.J.Res. 26 - Disapproving the action of the DC Council in approving the RCCA of 2023

This joint resolution would nullify the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, enacted by the council of the District of Columbia (DC). The act makes a variety of changes to DC criminal laws, including by providing statutory definitions for various elements of criminal offenses, modifying sentencing guidelines and penalties, and expanding the right to a jury trial for certain misdemeanor crimes.


Due Process Institute OPPOSES this joint resolution.

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Federal Legislation We Have Supported, 117th Congress

S. 79 / H.R. 1693 - EQUAL Act

S. 998 / H.R. 2453 - Driving for Opportunity Act

S. 998 / H.R. 2453 - Driving for Opportunity Act

Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law (EQUAL) Act eliminates the federal prison sentence disparity between crack cocaine and powdered cocaine offenses by equalizing the treatment between the two in sentencing and reducing the ratio from 18:1 to 1:1. The bill also makes this reform retroactive through individualized case review by federal courts.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill.

Update: The bill passed in the House by a 361-66 vote and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

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S. 998 / H.R. 2453 - Driving for Opportunity Act

S. 998 / H.R. 2453 - Driving for Opportunity Act

S. 998 / H.R. 2453 - Driving for Opportunity Act

This bill would help states end a counterproductive practice—suspending driver’s licenses simply because people cannot satisfy a financial obligation—and enact smart, data-driven policy on fines, fees, and driving license privileges.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill.

Update: The bill was reported favorably by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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S. 2095 - Emergency GRACE Act of 2021

S. 998 / H.R. 2453 - Driving for Opportunity Act

S. 130 / H.R. 657 - District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act

The Emergency GRACE Act of 2021 makes compassionate release more accessible for federal prisoners. The provisions in this bill ensure everyone incarcerated in a federal prison can apply directly to a judge for compassionate release, create a presumption of a sentence reduction, and provide $50 million for state prison systems to implement compassionate release systems. Furthermore, it expands compassionate release opportunities for those sentenced prior to November 1987 and provides deserving candidates a chance for release.  

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill. 

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S. 130 / H.R. 657 - District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act

S. 130 / H.R. 657 - District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act

S. 130 / H.R. 657 - District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act

This bill closes a loophole in federal law that allows for large-scale federalization of the National Guard to perform domestic policing functions without invoking the Insurrection Act or any other form of congressional authorization. It reforms the command structure of the D.C. National Guard (DCNG) and transfers control over the DCNG from the president to the Mayor of Washington, D.C.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill. 

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S. 1265 / H.R. 2738 - The Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act

S. 130 / H.R. 657 - District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act

S. 1265 / H.R. 2738 - The Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act

This bill greatly strengthens federal privacy protections against backdoor government snooping by reforming the current laws that allow federal agencies to buy Americans’ digital data and metadata in bulk from internet marketing firms without obtaining court orders based on individualized probable cause.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill. 

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S. 1013 - Smarter Sentencing Act

S. 130 / H.R. 657 - District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act

S. 1265 / H.R. 2738 - The Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act

This legislation modernizes federal drug sentencing policies by lowering certain mandatory drug sentences and gives federal judges the authority to conduct individualized reviews to determine the appropriate sentences for certain nonviolent drug offenses.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill. 

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S. 1014 / H.R. 3510 - First Step Implementation Act

S.2502 / H.R. 1924 - Kenneth P. Thompson Begin Again Act

S. 1014 / H.R. 3510 - First Step Implementation Act

This bill allows courts to apply sentencing reform provisions to reduce sentences imposed prior to the enactment of the First Step Act, including the provisions modifying the definitions of predicate prior offenses and eliminating 924c stacking. It also expands the safety valve to apply if criminal history exclusions cause over-representation of prior convictions, allow for sentence reductions for juvenile offenders who have served 20 years, provide for sealing and expungement of juvenile records, and require the Attorney General to establish procedures to ensure accurate criminal records.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill.

Update: The bill was reported favorably and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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S. 312 - COVID-19 Safer Detention Act

S.2502 / H.R. 1924 - Kenneth P. Thompson Begin Again Act

S. 1014 / H.R. 3510 - First Step Implementation Act

This bipartisan legislation would expand access to the federal home detention program for elderly individuals, clarify that all individuals in federal prison can apply for compassionate release, and streamline the home detention and compassionate release process during the COVID-19 crisis.


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bill.

Update: The bill was reported favorably and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Read Bill

S.2502 / H.R. 1924 - Kenneth P. Thompson Begin Again Act

S.2502 / H.R. 1924 - Kenneth P. Thompson Begin Again Act

S.2502 / H.R. 1924 - Kenneth P. Thompson Begin Again Act

Federal law currently limits expungement to individuals convicted of certain low-level drug crimes before they turn 21 years old. The Begin Again Act will slightly expand this provision of federal law to allow any individual convicted of simple possession to receive an expungement.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bill.

Update: The bill was reported favorably and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Read Bill

S.426 / H.R. 3064 - Inspector General Access Act

S. 601 - Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act

S.2502 / H.R. 1924 - Kenneth P. Thompson Begin Again Act

This bill would empower the DOJ Inspector General to investigate misconduct allegations made against DOJ attorneys, rather than the current system that gives that responsibility to the Office of Professional Responsibility.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill. 

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S. 309 - Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act

S. 601 - Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act

S. 601 - Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act

This bipartisan legislation would remove the presumption of pretrial incarceration that currently applies to those charged with nonviolent drug offenses and allow them to receive the same individualized determination judges currently complete for individuals charged with most federal crimes.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bill. 

Read Bill

S. 601 - Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act

S. 601 - Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act

S. 601 - Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act

This bill would end the federal practice of sentencing on the basis of conduct for which a jury has acquitted.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill.
 


Update: The bill passed the House by a 405-12 vote and now moves to the Senate for consideration. 

Read Blog

S. 3524 / H.R. 546 - Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

S. 3524 / H.R. 546 - Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

S. 3524 / H.R. 546 - Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

This bill requires the Bureau of Prisons to create a system to allow those in federal custody the right to confidentially communicate over e-mail with their attorneys without government monitoring.
 

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill.

Update: The bill passed the House by a 414-11 vote and now moves to the Senate for consideration. 

Read Bill

S.910 / H.R.1996 - SAFE Banking Act

S. 3524 / H.R. 546 - Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

S. 3524 / H.R. 546 - Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

This bill provides safe harbor and other protections for financial institutions—banks and credit unions—that transact with legitimate cannabis-related and hemp-related businesses. It also protects ancillary business entities that transact with legitimate cannabis-related legitimate businesses and creates a regulatory framework.

Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill.

Update: The bill passed the House as an en banc amendment to the NDAA and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

H.R. 2857 - FAIR Act

S. 3524 / H.R. 546 - Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

S.1380 / H.R. 2864 - Clean Slate Act

The Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act of 2019 improves protections for Americans when facing civil asset forfeiture. It increases the burden of proof from a preponderance of evidence to clear-and-convincing evidence; ends the practice of equitable sharing; and directs forfeiture funds into a general fund to disincentivize wrongful takings, among other protections. 


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill.

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S.1380 / H.R. 2864 - Clean Slate Act

S. 2914 / H.R. 5455 - Terry Technical Correction Act

S.1380 / H.R. 2864 - Clean Slate Act

This bill would provide for the automatic sealing of records for simple possession of a controlled substance or records for any federal nonviolent marijuana offense—one year after someone has completed any potential prison sentence. It also provides a petition process for the sealing of records for certain nonviolent offenses.

Update: The bill was reported favorably and passed the House Judiciary Committee.

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H.R.3529 - SCORE Act

S. 2914 / H.R. 5455 - Terry Technical Correction Act

S. 2914 / H.R. 5455 - Terry Technical Correction Act

This bill directs the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the Department of Justice to establish a grant program—the Second Chance Opportunity for Re-Entry Education Grant Program—to promote reentry training programs and reduce recidivism to county jails for qualified incarcerated persons with nonviolent convictions. 

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S. 2914 / H.R. 5455 - Terry Technical Correction Act

S. 2914 / H.R. 5455 - Terry Technical Correction Act

S. 2914 / H.R. 5455 - Terry Technical Correction Act

This bill would simply clarify that the First Step Act sentencing reforms were meant to apply to individuals convicted under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C), as well as other low-level offenses. 


Update: The bill was reported favorably and passed the House Judiciary Committee.

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S.3049 / H.R. 5651 - Fresh Start Act

S.3049 / H.R. 5651 - Fresh Start Act

S.3049 / H.R. 5651 - Fresh Start Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to award grants for states to implement automatic expungement laws (i.e., laws that provide for the automatic expungement or sealing of an individual's criminal records). 


Update: The bill was reported favorably and passed the House Judiciary Committee.

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H.R.6432 - SNAP Second Chance Act

S.3049 / H.R. 5651 - Fresh Start Act

S.3049 / H.R. 5651 - Fresh Start Act

This bill takes responsible steps to update USDA's standards and provide a greater opportunity for these business owners to support themselves, their families, and their communities 

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Federal Legislation We Have Supported, 116th Congress

S. 2566 - Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act

H.R. 5675 - Safeguarding Americans’ Private Records Act of 2020

H.R. 5675 - Safeguarding Americans’ Private Records Act of 2020

This bill protects due process and the right to a jury trial by ensuring that during sentencing, a judge is not permitted to consider conduct for which the defendant was found not guilty. This guarantees that a defendant's sentence is based only on the conduct for which he or she was found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill.

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H.R. 5675 - Safeguarding Americans’ Private Records Act of 2020

H.R. 5675 - Safeguarding Americans’ Private Records Act of 2020

H.R. 5675 - Safeguarding Americans’ Private Records Act of 2020

SAPRA restores reasonable safeguards for the privacy of American citizens by significantly reforming the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act in ways that will not undermine our national security. It ends the Section 215 Call Detail Records program, imposes uniform warrant requirements similar to those in our criminal justice system, and prevents federal agencies from fabricating parallel investigations to protect evidence collected in a manner that conflicts with federal law or Constitutional protections. 


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill.


Update: On March 11th, 2020 the House passed a compromise package of reforms. The Senate passed this legislation with an additional amendment and the House has now sought a conference for both chambers to agree on a final package of reforms.

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S. 4074 / H.R. 1895 - The FAIR Act

H.R. 5675 - Safeguarding Americans’ Private Records Act of 2020

H.R. 4018 - Elderly Home Detention Pilot Program

The Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act of 2019 improves protections for Americans when facing civil asset forfeiture. It increases the burden of proof from a preponderance of evidence to clear-and-convincing evidence; ends the practice of equitable sharing; and directs forfeiture funds into a general fund to disincentivize wrongful takings, among other protections. 


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill.

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H.R. 4018 - Elderly Home Detention Pilot Program

H.R. 5546 - Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

H.R. 4018 - Elderly Home Detention Pilot Program

This bill corrects a drafting error that limits the eligibility of the Elderly Home Detention Pilot Program in the First Step Act.  Rather than requiring that 2/3 of the original sentence be served, it requires that the inmate serve  2/3 of the sentence "reduced by any credit toward the service of the prisoner’s sentence awarded under" the Good Time Credits.


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill. 


Update: The bill passed the House by unanimous voice vote and has moved to the Senate.

Read Bill

H.R. 5546 - Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

H.R. 5546 - Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

H.R. 5546 - Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

This bill requires the Bureau of Prisons to create a system to allow those in federal custody the right to confidentially communicate over e-mail with their attorneys without government monitoring. 


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill. 


 Update: The bill passed the House by unanimous voice vote and is being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Read Blog

S. 1074 / H.R. 2168 - The REAL Act

H.R. 5546 - Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

H.R. 5546 - Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

The Restoring Education and Learning (REAL) Act, restores Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated individuals so they can receive post-secondary education in prison.  


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill. 

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H.R 5065 - Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act

H.R 5065 - Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act

H.R 5065 - Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act

This bill expands access to entrepreneurship training and business mentorship to individuals who are returning to their community from federal prison.


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill. 


Update: On January 8th, 2020 the House passed this legislation and it is awaiting a vote by the Senate's Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.  

Read Blog

S. 3240 - Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2020

H.R 5065 - Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act

H.R 5065 - Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act

This bill helps victims of human trafficking avoid the negative consequences of a criminal record connected with their victimization. It allows judges to vacate convictions and expunge federal arrest records when a criminal conviction is connected to their victimization. 


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill.

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H.R. 4252 - Shift Back to Society Act of 2019

H.R 5065 - Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act

H.R. 4252 - Shift Back to Society Act of 2019

This bill establishes 10 pilot reentry programs at historically black colleges and universities with funding to match the resources already committed by these institutions.


The Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill. 

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S. 3441 - Fair Hiring in Banking Act

S. 685 / H.R. 202 - Inspector General Access Act of 2019

H.R. 4252 - Shift Back to Society Act of 2019

Current law prevents individuals with a criminal record from working in the banking industry. This legislation would reduce the barriers faced by qualified individuals solely on account of their criminal record by reducing the necessary waiting periods imposed by federal law.

The Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill. 


Update: The FDIC independently adopted its own changes to the entity's regulations that reduce the barriers for individuals with a criminal record but these changes were not as comprehensive as the ones included in this legislation.

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S. 2227 / H.R. 3884 - The MORE Act

S. 685 / H.R. 202 - Inspector General Access Act of 2019

S. 685 / H.R. 202 - Inspector General Access Act of 2019

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act (H.R. 3884)  de-schedules marijuana, removing it from the Controlled Substances Act, and provides a process for courts to expunge marijuana convictions and re-sentence people with marijuana convictions. 


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill.


Update: The bill has passed the House Judiciary Committee.

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S. 685 / H.R. 202 - Inspector General Access Act of 2019

S. 685 / H.R. 202 - Inspector General Access Act of 2019

S. 685 / H.R. 202 - Inspector General Access Act of 2019

This bill would empower the DOJ Inspector General to investigate misconduct allegations made against DOJ attorneys, rather than the current system that gives that responsibility to the Office of Professional Responsibility.


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bipartisan bill. 


Update: The House bill has passed the full House of Representatives. The Senate bill has passed the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

Read Bill

S. 3698 - Emergency GRACE Act

S. 4142 / H.R. 7085 - Ending Qualified Immunity Act

S. 4142 / H.R. 7085 - Ending Qualified Immunity Act

Among other reforms, this bill would ensure all individuals incarcerated in federal prisons, regardless of their sentencing date, can apply directly to a judge for compassionate release. It would specifically  extend the reforms included in the First Step Act to federal prisoners who have been serving sentences rendered before November of 1987. 


 Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bill.

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S. 4142 / H.R. 7085 - Ending Qualified Immunity Act

S. 4142 / H.R. 7085 - Ending Qualified Immunity Act

S. 4142 / H.R. 7085 - Ending Qualified Immunity Act

 This bill would completely ban the use of a qualified immunity defense for government officials who violate  an American citizen's constitutional rights. This bill only applies to lawsuits brought under 42 U.S.C. 1983.


  Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bill. 

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S. 3723 - Sexual Abuse Services in Detention Act

S. 4142 / H.R. 7085 - Ending Qualified Immunity Act

S. 3723 - Sexual Abuse Services in Detention Act

 This bill would establish a sexual assault hotline specifically for those located in prisons where individuals can access crisis counseling  and other service providers. It would also provide education and training for corrections officials on sexual assault services available to those in prison.


  Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bill. 

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H.R. 7270 - Count the Crimes to Cut Act

S. 4186 - Driving for Opportunity Act of 2020

S. 3723 - Sexual Abuse Services in Detention Act

 This bill would require federal agencies to locate and report all criminal penalties in federal statute and regulations and establish a public database containing information on every federal statutory and regulatory crime. 


  Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bill. 

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S. 4034 - COVID-19 Safer Detention Act

S. 4186 - Driving for Opportunity Act of 2020

S. 4186 - Driving for Opportunity Act of 2020

This bipartisan legislation would expand access to the federal home detention program for elderly individuals, clarify that all individuals in federal prison can apply for compassionate release, and streamline the home detention and compassionate release process during the COVID-19 crisis.


  Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bill. 

Read Summary

S. 4186 - Driving for Opportunity Act of 2020

S. 4186 - Driving for Opportunity Act of 2020

S. 4186 - Driving for Opportunity Act of 2020

This bipartisan legislation would assist states seeking to end the counterproductive policy of suspending an individual's driver's license on account of court debt. 


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bill. 

Read Bill

S. 4549 - Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act

S. 4549 - Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act

S. 4549 - Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act

This bipartisan legislation would remove the presumption of pretrial incarceration that currently applies to those charged with nonviolent drug offenses and allow them to receive the same individualized determination judges currently complete for individuals charged with most federal crimes.


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bill. 

Read Summary

H.R. 8560 - Kenneth P. Thompson Begin Again Act

S. 4549 - Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act

S. 4549 - Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act

Federal law currently limits expungement to individuals convicted of certain low-level drug crimes before they turn 21 years old. The Begin Again Act will slightly expand this provision of federal law to allow any individual convicted of simple possession to receive an expungement. 


Due Process Institute ENDORSES this bill. 

Read Blog

Previous Successful Legislative Campaigns

H.R. 1219 / S. 1099 - Clyde-Hirsch-Sowers RESPECT Act

H.R. 1219 / S. 1099 - Clyde-Hirsch-Sowers RESPECT Act

H.R. 1219 / S. 1099 - Clyde-Hirsch-Sowers RESPECT Act

This bill limited the IRS' ability to seek forfeiture in cases where the only suspected crime is "structuring" rather than another crime for which structuring is used to conceal wrongdoing.

 
Due Process Institute ENDORSED this bill. 


Outcome: The RESPECT Act was incorporated into the Taxpayer First Act and signed into federal law on July 10, 2019.

Read Blog

USA PATRIOT Act Section 314(a)

H.R. 1219 / S. 1099 - Clyde-Hirsch-Sowers RESPECT Act

H.R. 1219 / S. 1099 - Clyde-Hirsch-Sowers RESPECT Act

Section 314 of the Patriot Act and its implementing regulations already give significant cause for concern and fail to adequately protect Americans’ Fourth Amendment and privacy rights. Attempts to expand this program through statutory or regulatory means are even more concerning. It is our hope that FinCEN will reevaluate the necessity and efficacy of the Section 314 program and ultimately abandon the practice of warrantless searches and seizures of financial records, or at the very least, adopt clear legal standards and procedural measures consistent with our foundational Constitutional rights. 


Due Process Institute has thus far successfully OPPOSED past attempts at legislative expansions of Section 314 of the Patriot Act.

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H.B. 6873 - Discovery in Criminal Cases In Virginia

H.R. 1219 / S. 1099 - Clyde-Hirsch-Sowers RESPECT Act

H.B. 6873 - Discovery in Criminal Cases In Virginia

This legislation expanded the rights of defendants in a criminal trial in Virginia to request evidence being used by the prosecution as proof of their guilt and to file motions compelling such discovery with state courts.


Due Process Institute ENDORSED this bill.


Outcome: the legislation became law in Spring 2020.

Read Blog

 At the close of the 115th Congress, the First Step Act passed the Senate (87-12)  and the House of Representatives (358-36) and was signed into law by President Trump on December 21, 2018. This bill, which made positive changes to the federal prison system as well as some modest federal sentencing reforms was the most significant bipartisan criminal justice reform passed in almost a decade and was one of the first major reform campaigns for the Due Process Institute .


Following this important achievement, Due Process Institute continues to look for those criminal justice reform issues where the Left and Right can come together for the common good as well as new partnerships from across the political spectrum to join our efforts to prevent the further erosion of procedural due process rights in our criminal legal system.

Copyright © 2022 Due Process Institute - All Rights Reserved.


Please note: contributions to Due Process Institute, a 501(c)(4), are not deductible for federal tax purposes.   

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