Count the Crimes to Cut Act
Summary
The "Count the Crimes to Cut Act" directs the Attorney General and heads of various federal agencies to submit reports to Congress detailing all federal criminal offenses, both statutory and regulatory. These reports must include lists of offenses, their elements, potential penalties, prosecution numbers over the past 15 years, and mens rea requirements. The Act also mandates the creation of publicly accessible online indexes of these offenses.
Expected Effects
This act aims to increase transparency regarding federal criminal laws and regulations. By providing a comprehensive inventory of federal offenses, Congress and the public can better understand the scope of federal criminal law. This could lead to future legislative efforts to reform or reduce the number of federal crimes.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency regarding federal criminal offenses.
- Provides a comprehensive inventory of federal statutory and regulatory crimes.
- Allows for better understanding of the scope and application of federal criminal law.
- May facilitate future efforts to reform or reduce the number of federal crimes.
- Could lead to more informed policy decisions regarding criminal justice.
Potential Disadvantages
- The act itself does not directly address any specific issues related to crime or justice, only transparency.
- Requires significant resources from the Department of Justice and other federal agencies to compile the reports and indexes.
- The reports may reveal an unexpectedly high number of criminal regulatory offenses, potentially causing public concern.
- The act does not guarantee any actual reduction in the number of federal crimes.
- The process of compiling the reports could be subject to political influence or manipulation.
Constitutional Alignment
The "Count the Crimes to Cut Act" appears to align with the US Constitution. Article I, Section 1 vests legislative powers in Congress, which includes the power to request information from the executive branch. The Act does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).