COPS Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4177
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-26: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-17T11:12:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to strengthen penalties for assaults, resistance, or impediments against certain federal officers or employees, with a specific focus on preventing the use of explosive materials in such offenses.
Key Provisions
- The bill amends section 111 of title 18, United States Code, which addresses crimes involving the assault, resistance, or impedance of federal officers or employees.
- It increases maximum fines and prison terms for both basic offenses and those involving dangerous weapons or bodily injury.
- It explicitly includes explosive materials in the definition of dangerous weapons or means used in these offenses.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- In subsection (a) for basic offenses:
- Raises the maximum fine from an amount set under title 18 to up to $200,000.
- Increases the maximum prison term from 1 year to 2 years.
- Increases the maximum prison term from 8 years to 10 years.
- In subsection (b) for offenses involving a deadly or dangerous weapon or bodily injury:
- Adds explosive materials (as defined in section 841) to the list of included items.
- Raises the maximum fine from an amount set under title 18 to up to $500,000, regardless of section 3571.
- Increases the maximum prison term from 20 years to 25 years.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: This could lead to stronger deterrence against attacks on federal personnel, potentially affecting agencies like the Department of Justice or law enforcement bodies by enhancing prosecution tools.
- On citizens: Individuals convicted of these enhanced offenses may face longer sentences and higher fines, particularly if explosives are involved.
- On international relations: No direct effects are outlined in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal officers and employees protected under section 111, such as law enforcement personnel.
- Individuals charged with or convicted of assaulting, resisting, or impeding these officers.
- The judicial system and federal prosecutors responsible for enforcing the updated penalties.
- Communities or groups involved in incidents involving explosives against federal personnel.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The changes raise maximum penalties without altering the underlying elements of the crime, which may raise questions about sentencing proportionality under the Constitution.
- By specifying explosives, the bill targets a particular category of weapons in federal assault cases, potentially affecting how courts interpret "dangerous weapon" in related prosecutions.
- No other constitutional or political implications are detailed in the text itself.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-26: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-06-26: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Curbing Offenses on Policing Services Act — issued 2025-06-26 — PDF (2 pages)