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119-hr-7081119th Congress

Sara’s Law and the Preventing Unfair Sentencing Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4]

Introduced

Summary

Reduce or suspend mandatory minimum federal sentences for certain young defendants who suffered serious abuse. The bill would create a formal "youthful victim offender" category and give courts discretion to depart downward or to suspend sentences when an offender’s conduct is linked to trauma.

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  • Young defendants: People who were under 18 at the time of an offense could get a downward departure or have part or all of a sentence suspended if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that an abuser engaged in qualifying conduct within one year before the offense.
  • Federal courts: Judges would be authorized to consider trauma‑influenced conduct as a basis to reduce statutory minimums and to suspend any portion of an imposed sentence.
  • Sentencing policy: The United States Sentencing Commission would be directed to review and, if appropriate, amend its guidelines and policy statements to align with the new youthful victim offender authority.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Sentencing relief for juvenile victims

If enacted, the bill would let federal judges impose sentences below statutory minimums and suspend parts of sentences for certain juvenile offenders. It would apply only to people who were under 18 when they committed a violent offense. The judge would have to find by clear and convincing evidence that the victim committed a qualifying sex‑trafficking or sexual‑abuse offense against the juvenile not earlier than one year before the violent offense. These sentencing options would apply only to convictions entered on or after the law's enactment. The bill would also direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend its guidelines to be consistent with this change.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4]

AR • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/14/2026

  • Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2026

  • Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2026

  • Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2026

  • Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 1/14/2026

  • Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 1/14/2026

  • Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 1/14/2026

  • Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/9/2026

  • Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]

    GU • R

    Sponsored 2/9/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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