Bill · S. 3483· Senate(119-S-3483)
A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the consideration of acquitted conduct at sentencing.
- Introduced
- 12/15/2025
- Last activity
- 12/15/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S8737)
- Sponsored by
- Richard Durbin
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill stops courts from using acquitted conduct when sentencing a person. Acquitted conduct means acts a person was charged with and found not guilty of in court, or certain dismissed charges. The bill applies to judgments entered on or after the date the section is enacted. It amends title 18 of the United States Code. Senators Durbin and Grassley introduced the bill in the Senate.
Yes
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+8
The legislation strengthens due process protections by ensuring individuals are not punished for charges of which they were acquitted.
Does this shorten or soften prison sentences?+8
The bill enhances fairness in the justice system by explicitly prohibiting federal courts from using acquitted conduct during sentencing.
Would children be better off under this?+5
The bill explicitly includes juvenile adjudications, protecting young people from having unproven charges used against them at sentencing.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Fairer Sentencing: Section 1(a)(1) stops United States courts from considering acquitted conduct when sentencing, except if it helps lower a sentence. This is positive because it ensures people are not punished for crimes a jury already found them not guilty of committing.
-
Clear Protections for Juveniles: Section 1(b) defines acquitted conduct to include situations where a juvenile was found not responsible after a juvenile adjudication hearing. This protects young people from having unproven charges used against them at sentencing.
-
Protection from Dismissed Charges: Section 1(b) also covers acts underlying criminal charges or juvenile information dismissed upon a motion for acquittal. This protects individuals from facing punishment for charges that were officially dismissed by a court.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No Negative Impacts Found: Based on the explicit text of the bill, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that create negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+8
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Criminal Sentencing Reform+8
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+5
- 12/15/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S8737)
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa