Restoring Law and Order on America’s Streets Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8452
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-22: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-07T21:12:44Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends federal law to authorize the civil commitment of certain individuals deemed a danger to public safety, extending an existing mechanism previously limited to sexually dangerous persons. The stated goal is to address public safety concerns related to mental health conditions and specific behaviors.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 4248 of Title 18, United States Code, to include "a person who is a danger to public safety" alongside existing provisions for sexually dangerous persons.
- Requires the Attorney General or Director of the Bureau of Prisons to evaluate homeless individuals (as defined under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act) entering federal custody or whose charges were dismissed due to mental condition, to determine if they qualify for certification as a sexually dangerous person or a person who is a danger to public safety.
- Adds new definitions in Section 4247, including:
- "Person who is a danger to public safety": An individual who has engaged or attempted to engage in specified acts (crime of violence, burglary, robbery, larceny, unlawful drug activity in public, urban camping, urban squatting, or vandalism) and who poses a danger to the public.
- "Danger to the public": A condition involving a serious mental illness, abnormality, or disorder that would make it seriously difficult for the person to refrain from the listed behaviors.
- "Urban camping": Using temporary outdoor shelters (tents, tarps, vehicles, etc.) as primary living accommodations for more than 24 hours on property not designated for such use.
- "Urban squatting": Unauthorized occupation of vacant or abandoned buildings or land.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the civil commitment process under 18 U.S.C. §§ 4247–4248 beyond sexually dangerous persons to cover a broader category based on mental health and specific public-order behaviors.
- Introduces mandatory evaluations for certain homeless individuals in federal custody.
- Defines new terms and behaviors (urban camping, urban squatting, public drug activity) not previously covered in this civil commitment framework.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Increases responsibilities for the Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons, and federal courts in conducting evaluations, hearings, and ongoing commitments.
- Citizens: May affect individuals with mental health conditions, those experiencing homelessness, or those involved in listed behaviors by subjecting them to potential indefinite civil commitment following criminal proceedings or charges.
- International relations: No direct provisions or impacts identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Individuals with serious mental illnesses or those engaging in the specified behaviors.
- Homeless populations.
- Federal law enforcement and corrections agencies.
- Federal courts and mental health evaluators.
- State and local governments that may interact with federal commitments.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Raises potential due process considerations under the Fifth Amendment, as civil commitment involves deprivation of liberty based on mental health and behavioral criteria.
- Expands federal authority over what have traditionally been state or local matters involving public order and mental health.
- May intersect with existing Supreme Court precedents on civil commitment standards, such as requirements for dangerousness and mental abnormality.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-22: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-04-22: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-22: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Restoring Law and Order on America’s Streets Act — issued 2026-04-22 — PDF (4 pages)