arrow_back Civic Audit
Share share

Increased Penalties for Damaging Federal Courthouses and Accessing Judges.

New rules increase penalties for damaging federal courthouses and for unauthorized access to areas where federal judges work or reside. This means individuals who harm federal property, such as court buildings, or infringe on judges' privacy, could face much harsher legal consequences, including longer prison sentences.
Key points
Maximum prison sentence increased to 25 years for damaging or attempting to damage a federal courthouse.
Vandalism (e.g., graffiti) on federal property is now presumed to cause over $1,000 in damage, simplifying prosecution.
Legal protection extended to federal courthouses and locations where federal judges and other protected officials reside or visit.
article Official text account_balance Process page notifications_active Track this Bill
gavel
Status:
Expired
Record your position for audit.
Why does your vote on bills matter?
It creates raw, undeniable proof. Civic Will provides the permanent data to verify the Government's loyalty towards its citizens (explained here). Start recording it now.
Additional Information
Print number: 117_S_2249
Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Process start date: 2021-06-24
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

A bill to increase the penalties for damage to Federal courthouses and unauthorized access to areas where Federal judges work, reside, or visit.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_S_2249.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-06-24.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Maximum prison sentence increased to 25 years for damaging or attempting to damage a federal courthouse.
  • Vandalism (e.g., graffiti) on federal property is now presumed to cause over $1,000 in damage, simplifying prosecution.
  • Legal protection extended to federal courthouses and locations where federal judges and other protected officials reside or visit.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-29.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Courts and Law Security