April 22, 2026
Ms. Mace (for herself and Mr. Burchett) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for the civil commitment of persons who are a danger to public safety, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Restoring Law and Order on America’s Streets Act
.
Sec. 2. Authorizing the civil commitment of persons who are a danger to public safety
(a) In general
Section 4248 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in the section heading, by inserting or a person who is a danger to public safety
after of a sexually dangerous person
;
(2)
by inserting or a person who is a danger to public safety
after sexually dangerous person
each time it appears;
(3)
by inserting or a danger to the public
after sexually dangerous to others
each time it appears; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following:
(h) Required determination for homeless individuals
The Attorney General or the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, as appropriate, shall evaluate each person described in subsection (a) who was homeless (as such term is defined in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302)) immediately prior the date on which the person entered the custody of the Attorney General or the Bureau of Prisons, or immediately prior to the date on which criminal charges were dismissed solely for reasons relating to the mental condition of the person, to determine whether to certify that such person is a sexually dangerous person or a person who is a danger to public safety.
(b) Definitions
Section 4247 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (5), by striking and
at the end;
(B)
in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(7)
person who is a danger to public safetymeans a person—(A)
who has engaged or attempted to engage in—
(i)
a crime of violence;
(ii)
burglary, robbery, or larceny;
(iii)
the unlawful possession, use, sale, transfer, or distribution of a controlled substance in a public place;
(iv)
urban camping or urban squatting; or
(v)
vandalism; and
(B)
who is a danger to the public;
(8)
danger to the public, with respect to a person, means that the person suffers from a serious mental illness, abnormality, or disorder as a result of which such person would have serious difficulty in refraining from engaging in—(A)
a crime of violence;
(B)
burglary, robbery, or larceny;
(C)
the possession, use, sale, transfer, or distribution of illegal narcotics in a public place;
(D)
urban camping or urban squatting; or
(E)
vandalism;
(9)
urban campingmeans using as a primary living accommodation (rather than transient recreation) any temporary outdoor shelter, including tents, tarps, bedding, or vehicle for sleeping or residing for a period exceeding 24 hours in a single location on public or private property not designated for recreational use; and(10)
urban squattingmeans using or occupying a vacant or abandoned building, structure, or land, without authorization.; and
(2)
in subsection (c)(4)(D), by inserting or a person who is a danger to public safety
after sexually dangerous person
.