This legislation, titled the Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act of 2025 , amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. It establishes new reporting requirements for "covered prosecutors," defined as chief executives of district attorney or prosecutor's offices serving jurisdictions with populations of at least 360,000 and receiving federal funds under the Act. These covered prosecutors must annually submit reports to the Attorney General detailing their handling of "covered offenses," which include serious crimes like murder, robbery, and various firearm offenses. The reports must specify the total cases referred, those declined for prosecution or plea agreements, and information on defendants with prior criminal history who received plea agreements or diversion. Additionally, offices must disclose any internal policies against prosecuting specific criminal offenses. Compliance with these reporting requirements grants priority for federal funding under the Act, with a portion of these funds specifically allocated to the prosecutor's office. The Attorney General is tasked with creating uniform reporting standards, submitting the collected data to Congress, and making it publicly available. Furthermore, the bill prohibits the distribution of certain federal funds to state or local governments that have policies banning cash bail for defendants in cases involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Crime and Law Enforcement
Assault and harassment offensesCongressional oversightCrimes against propertyCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsCriminal procedure and sentencingFirearms and explosivesGovernment information and archivesIntergovernmental relationsLaw enforcement administration and fundingSex offensesState and local government operationsViolent crime
Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-234| Senate
| Updated: 1/23/2025
This legislation, titled the Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act of 2025 , amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. It establishes new reporting requirements for "covered prosecutors," defined as chief executives of district attorney or prosecutor's offices serving jurisdictions with populations of at least 360,000 and receiving federal funds under the Act. These covered prosecutors must annually submit reports to the Attorney General detailing their handling of "covered offenses," which include serious crimes like murder, robbery, and various firearm offenses. The reports must specify the total cases referred, those declined for prosecution or plea agreements, and information on defendants with prior criminal history who received plea agreements or diversion. Additionally, offices must disclose any internal policies against prosecuting specific criminal offenses. Compliance with these reporting requirements grants priority for federal funding under the Act, with a portion of these funds specifically allocated to the prosecutor's office. The Attorney General is tasked with creating uniform reporting standards, submitting the collected data to Congress, and making it publicly available. Furthermore, the bill prohibits the distribution of certain federal funds to state or local governments that have policies banning cash bail for defendants in cases involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm.
Assault and harassment offensesCongressional oversightCrimes against propertyCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsCriminal procedure and sentencingFirearms and explosivesGovernment information and archivesIntergovernmental relationsLaw enforcement administration and fundingSex offensesState and local government operationsViolent crime