Justice for Fallen Law Enforcement Act
Justice for Fallen Law Enforcement Act adds federal penalties for violence against law enforcement officers and for the murder of such officers when interstate elements are involved. The bill creates a new offense (18 U.S.C. 111(d)) that imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 20 years for acts against a federal officer, or against a state/local officer when the perpetrator plans or facilitates the act with an instrument of interstate commerce or uses a weapon that traveled in interstate commerce, resulting in serious injury. It also creates a new provision (Sec. 1123) that applies the murder penalties of first-degree murder (as described in 18 U.S.C. 1111) to the murder of a federal officer or a state/local officer under the same interstate-activities framework. Additionally, the Attorney General must report within three years on prosecutions undertaken under these amendments. The overall aim is to deter assaults and killings of law enforcement officers by tying serious offenses to federal penalties when interstate connections exist.
Key Points
- 1New offense: 18 U.S.C. 111(d) for actions against a federal law enforcement officer, or against a state/local officer if the perpetrator plans/facilitates with an instrument of interstate commerce or uses a weapon that traveled in interstate commerce, resulting in serious injury; minimum sentence of 20 years.
- 2New murder provision: Sec. 1123 adds a requirement that the murder of a federal officer, or a state/local officer under the same interstate-facilitated circumstances, be punished as first-degree murder under 18 U.S.C. 1111.
- 3Interstate commerce element: Applies only when the offender uses or plans to use an instrument or weapon that has traveled in interstate commerce, establishing federal jurisdiction.
- 4Administrative addition: The bill adds 1123 to the table of sections in chapter 51 of title 18.
- 5Reporting requirement: The Attorney General must submit a report within three years detailing prosecutions arising from these amendments to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees.