H.R. 4177: Curbing Offenses on Policing Services Act

This bill, known as the Curbing Offenses on Policing Services Act (COPS Act), aims to amend existing laws related to the assaulting, resisting, or impeding of certain law enforcement officers and government employees.

Key Changes Proposed by the Bill

• Increased Penalties: The bill proposes to increase the penalties for offenses related to assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees. Specifically:
  • Currently, the maximum fine for such offenses is $100,000; this bill proposes to increase it to up to $200,000.
  • The maximum prison sentence may increase from 8 years to 10 years for these offenses.
• Inclusion of Explosive Materials: The bill adds the use of explosive materials as a specific offense. This means that if someone uses explosives to assault, resist, or impede officers or employees, it would fall under these more severe penalties. This change expands the scope of actions that can lead to increased legal repercussions.
• Increased Fines for Explosive-Related Offenses: For cases involving explosives, the fines could increase from the current standard to up to $500,000, regardless of existing fines outlined in federal sentencing laws. Additionally, the maximum prison sentence for this specific offense could extend from 20 years to 25 years.

Impact on Law Enforcement

The changes aimed by this bill are intended to provide law enforcement agencies with more robust legal tools to combat violence against their members. By increasing the penalties associated with these offenses, the bill may serve as a deterrent against violence towards police officers and other designated employees.

Legislative Process

This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary for consideration. It is in the early stages of the legislative process and will need to pass through various levels of approval before becoming law.

Relevant Companies

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