Bill · H.R. 5016· House(119-HR-5016)
Keep Offenders Off Our Streets Act.
- Introduced
- 8/22/2025
- Last activity
- 8/22/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Sponsored by
- Andy Biggs
- Cosponsors
- - 5 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is titled the Keep Offenders Off Our Streets Act. It stops the District of Columbia from letting people charged with a crime go free before their trial without a secured appearance bond. The mayor cannot enforce rules that allow release without this bond, and the D.C. Council cannot pass them. The bill repeals release on personal recognizance and changes the D.C. Home Rule Act to include this prohibition. These rules apply to people who appear before a judicial officer before, on, or after the date the act is passed. If any part of the act is found invalid, the rest of the act stays valid.
Yes
Does this give the federal government more power?+6
Federal legislation directly overrides local D.C. governance and amends the D.C. Home Rule Act.
Would high-income households be better off under this?+2
Wealthier individuals can more easily afford secured appearance bonds if charged with an offense.
The opposite· 3 of 10
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?-7
Low-income defendants will face severe pretrial detention burdens due to the inability to afford secured appearance bonds.
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-6
Preempts local legislative and executive authority in the District of Columbia.
Does this shorten or soften prison sentences?-5
Restricts judicial discretion by mandating secured appearance bonds and repealing release on personal recognizance.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Section 2(a): This section prohibits releasing individuals charged with an offense in the District of Columbia pending trial without executing a bail bond with solvent sureties. This might be considered positive because it requires a financial guarantee to help assure the person appears for trial as required.
-
Section 2(b)(1): This section repeals release on personal recognizance and updates the D.C. Official Code to require the execution of a bail bond with solvent sureties in an amount reasonably necessary to assure the person's appearance. This might be considered positive as it ensures individuals cannot simply be released on their own word without financial backing to guarantee they show up in court.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2(a): By prohibiting the release of any charged individual without a secured appearance bond, this rule takes away a judge's ability to release someone on personal recognizance. This might be considered a burden or negative for individuals who are charged with an offense but lack the financial resources to pay for a bail bond or secure solvent sureties, potentially keeping them detained simply because they cannot afford it.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For High Income Households+2Good For Low Income Households-7Good For Urban Residents-4Good For African Americans-3Good For Hispanic Americans-2Good For Young Adults-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Criminal Sentencing Reform-5Improves Poverty Reduction-4Improves Racial Equity-3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+6Increase States Rights-6Improves Due Process-5
- 9/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/4/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/22/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Elijah CraneRepublican · Arizona
Andy HarrisRepublican · Maryland
Clay HigginsRepublican · Louisiana
Troy NehlsRepublican · Texas
Marlin StutzmanRepublican · Indiana