Politiparty
Politiparty

119th Congress Crime and Law Enforcement

S. 1102: Quality Defense Act of 2025

Introduced

  1. Introduced (completed)Mar 25, 2025
  2. Passed Senate (not reached)
  3. Passed House (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Introduced in Senate, Mar 25, 2025

This bill establishes grant programs and other resources to support the delivery of public defense services.

Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to state and local governments, tribal organizations, public defender's offices, and assigned counsel programs for public defense. In particular, DOJ may award a grant for (1) developing, implementing, and updating a process for collecting certain data regarding public defense attorneys and panel attorneys; or (2) hiring additional public defense attorneys and for other activities (e.g., increasing compensation or establishing a loan assistance program for public defenders).

Additionally, DOJ must award grants to eligible entities (e.g., certain tax-exempt organizations and states) to provide a comprehensive educational program to public defenders and panel attorneys that offers ongoing training, support, and programming.

Read the full summary

The bill directs the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office for Access to Justice to conduct certain studies related to public defender and panel attorney caseloads and compensation.

The bill also authorizes DOJ to provide a state with an increase in Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program funds in order to collect and submit certain data related to the legal representation of defendants in criminal cases.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Roll calls

0 votes on this bill

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Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

2

Who scored on this bill

0 points earned

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Other bills by Cory Booker

History

  1. Mar 25, 2025Introduced in the Senate by Cory Booker.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
  1. Mar 25, 2025Introduced in Senate
  2. Mar 25, 2025Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.