HR 4194 114th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Drug trafficking and controlled substances Evidence and witnesses Juvenile crime and gang violence Law enforcement administration and funding Organized crime Performance measurement Violent crime

Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2015

Introduced: December 9, 2015 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jan 15, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Dec 9, 2015

Introduced in House

Dec 9, 2015

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award competitive matching grants to state, local, and tribal governments to establish or maintain witness protection programs in cases related to: (1) a homicide, serious violent felony, or serious drug offense; or (2) gangs or organized crime.

DOJ must evaluate grant applications based on certain criteria, including the prevalence of witness intimidation, the presence of organized crime, and the per capita number of homicides, violent felonies, or serious drug offenses.

The bill also requires DOJ to: (1) consider urban and rural applicants and ensure equitable geographic distribution of grant awards; and (2) develop and disseminate best practice models to help state, local, and tribal governments address witness protection and assistance issues.

What's happening now January 15, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Committees of jurisdiction 2