JAIL Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5312 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5312

  To authorize civil actions against judges who, and other government 
    entities that, release repeat offenders on bail, and for other 
                               purposes.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 11, 2025

   Mr. Fine (for himself, Mrs. Luna, and Mr. LaMalfa) introduced the 
  following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To authorize civil actions against judges who, and other government 
    entities that, release repeat offenders on bail, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Judicial Accountability for 
Irresponsible Leniency Act'' or the ``JAIL Act''.

SEC. 2. CIVIL ACTIONS FOR HARM CAUSED BY REPEAT OFFENDERS RELEASED 
              PENDING TRIAL.

    (a) Civil Action.--If a judge or another government entity issues 
an order releasing a covered defendant on bail pending trial, and the 
covered defendant harms another person during such release, that person 
(or an immediate family member of that person if the person is 
deceased), may bring a civil action against the judge or other 
government entity in an appropriate district court of the United States 
seeking damages.
    (b) No Judicial Immunity.--Judicial immunity is not a defense in a 
civil action under this section.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``covered defendant'' means an individual who 
        is charged with a crime of violence and has previously been 
        convicted of a crime of violence.
            (2) The term ``crime of violence'' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 16 of title 18, United States Code.
            (3) The term ``judge'' includes Federal and State judges.
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