Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act

# Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would require local and state prosecutors in larger cities to submit regular reports on how they handle serious crimes. Prosecutors would need to track and report data on cases involving crimes like murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft, arson, and gun offenses. The reports would show which cases they decided to prosecute versus decline, how many resulted in plea deals, and information about defendants' bail status and prior criminal histories. **Who It Affects:** The requirement applies specifically to prosecutors' offices in cities and counties with populations of 380,000 or more that receive federal grant funding through the Justice Assistance Grant program. This would primarily impact larger urban jurisdictions.

The bill aims to create transparency around prosecution decisions, though it doesn't mandate any specific charging or prosecution policies. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee (HR 350, 119th Congress) and has not yet been voted on by the full House. It was introduced by Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY). The bill focuses on data collection and transparency rather than changing prosecution laws themselves.