Count the Crimes to Cut Act
Summary
The "Count the Crimes to Cut Act" (H.R. 2159) 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, 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
The primary effect of this Act would be increased transparency regarding federal criminal laws and regulations. This could lead to a better understanding of the scope of federal criminal law and potentially inform future legislative efforts to reform or streamline the federal criminal code.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency in federal criminal law.
- Potential for identifying and eliminating redundant or outdated criminal offenses.
- Improved public awareness of the scope and nature of federal crimes.
- Data-driven insights for criminal justice reform.
- May lead to more efficient allocation of resources within the Department of Justice and other federal agencies.
Potential Disadvantages
- The reporting requirements could place a significant burden on the Department of Justice and other federal agencies.
- The Act does not guarantee any actual reduction in the number of federal crimes.
- The process of compiling and publishing the required reports and indexes could be costly.
- The Act does not address the underlying issues that lead to criminal behavior.
- The information gathered may be used for unintended purposes.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the Constitution, particularly Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to define and punish offenses. The reporting requirements do not seem to infringe on any specific constitutional rights. The emphasis on transparency could be seen as promoting a more accountable government, which aligns with the spirit of the Constitution.
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).