Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Act
Sponsored By: Senator Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced
Summary
Blocks Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants to states or local governments that substantially limit cash bail for certain violent or public-disorder crimes. It would define “covered offenses” to include violent and sexual crimes and offenses like looting, vandalism, rioting, and fleeing from police, and it would make jurisdictions ineligible for Byrne JAG awards if they substantially limit cash bail as a potential condition for every person charged with a covered offense starting the first October 1 after enactment and each year after.
Show full summary
- People charged with a "covered offense" would be more likely to face cash bail because jurisdictions that limit bail for those offenses risk losing Byrne JAG funding.
- State and local governments would face a funding penalty tied to their pretrial bail policies for these crimes and could lose eligibility for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants.
- Courts, local lawmakers, and pretrial programs may be less likely to adopt bail-limiting reforms for these offenses to avoid jeopardizing federal grant money.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Withhold Justice Department grants for bail limits
If enacted, the bill would block Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants to some states and local governments. Grants would be withheld if a state or local government mostly bans cash bail for people charged with certain crimes. Covered offenses would include violent or sexual crimes, such as murder, rape, sexual assault, carjacking, robbery, burglary, and assault. They would also include public disorder crimes, like looting, vandalism, property destruction, rioting, or fleeing police. The rule would start in the fiscal year that begins on the first October 1 after enactment. It would apply in each fiscal year after that.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]
OH • R
Sponsored 10/7/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov