Latest Promises In Criminal Justice

Donald Trump

Seek the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers

January 19, 2025

Donald Trump

Impose the death penalty for selling drugs

January 19, 2025

Donald Trump

Increase liability protections for police officers

January 19, 2025

Joe Biden

Eliminate the federal death penalty

Biden commutes sentences of all but three convicts on federal death row | January 8, 2025

Joe Biden

Decriminalize marijuana

Biden pushes marijuana rescheduling forward, but Trump administration likely to finish process | December 16, 2024

Joe Biden

Use a national commission to address policing issues

Joe Biden compromises on promise to create commission to address policing issues | December 9, 2024

Joe Biden

Eliminate cash bail

Joe Biden didn’t act to advance campaign promise on eliminating cash bail | December 6, 2024

Joe Biden

Eliminate mandatory minimums for criminals

Joe Biden made limited attempts to reduce mandatory minimum sentences | December 4, 2024

Joe Biden

End federal government’s use of private prisons and detention centers

Joe Biden compromises on promise to end the federal use of private prisons and detention centers | December 2, 2024

Joe Biden

Expand services for people during and after incarceration

Biden increases funding, announces strategic plan to ease reentry for incarcerated individuals | July 24, 2024

Joe Biden

Invest $300 million in COPS program

Biden delivered more than double his $300 million pledge for COPS program | June 18, 2024

Joe Biden

Incentivize states to restore voting rights to convicted felons

Broken promise: Biden makes no effort to incentivize states to restore voting rights after felony | June 13, 2024

Joe Biden

Support the study of reparations for slavery

Biden promised to support a study on reparations, but has not called for one | February 22, 2024

Joe Biden

Expand Justice Department power to address police misconduct

Biden keeps promise on Justice Department police investigations, including Minneapolis probe | June 16, 2023

Joe Biden

Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act

Biden signs bill that closes the ‘boyfriend loophole’ | June 30, 2022

Donald Trump

Appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton

No special counsel was ever appointed to investigate Hillary Clinton | July 15, 2020

Donald Trump

Impose death penalty for cop killers

Trump makes no move on promised death penalty for those who kill police officers | July 15, 2020

Barack Obama

Ban racial profiling by federal law enforcement agencies

Without a new law, Justice Department updates racial profiling guidelines | December 8, 2016

Barack Obama

Restrict warrantless wiretaps

Some limits on warrantless wiretaps but loopholes remain | November 18, 2016

Barack Obama

Encourage videotaping of interrogations in capital cases

Obama administration goes beyond its original promise | May 30, 2014

Barack Obama

Restore habeas corpus rights for “enemy combatants”

Many enemy combatants still lack habeas rights | December 13, 2012

Barack Obama

Send first-time nonviolent drug offenders to rehab if appropriate

Clear emphasis on drug treatment approaches | December 6, 2012

Barack Obama

Enhance drug courts

Drug courts are expanding, though not in federal system | December 6, 2012

Barack Obama

Fully fund the COPS program

COPS got full funding once in four years | November 13, 2012