FAMILIES Act
Latest action (27 Jul 2021): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 4709, the FAMILIES Act, would amend federal sentencing law to create an alternative to incarceration for certain federal defendants with caregiving responsibilities. It would establish a "FAMILIES Program" that federal courts could impose instead of probation or a prison term for eligible individuals—defined to include parents of minor children, pregnant people, caregivers for minors, adults with disabilities, or elderly relatives, and spouses or partners of such individuals. Courts would weigh factors such as caregiving responsibilities, risk of harm to dependents, community ties, and criminal history before diverting a defendant into the program, which would provide education, job training, substance-use and mental-health treatment, parenting support, and help accessing benefits like health coverage, housing, SNAP, WIC, and TANF. The bill also limits when courts can impose fines or restitution on program participants, sets rules for handling violations (including protections after a relapse), and allows certain young offenders to have their records expunged upon successful completion. It also directs the Justice Department to fund grants supporting similar state-level programs.
The bill would primarily affect federal defendants who have significant caregiving duties, along with judges, probation officials, the Justice Department, and Department of Health and Human Services, which would jointly develop and administer the program and related judicial training.
The bill was introduced in the House on July 27, 2021, by Rep. Pramila Jayapal and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. It did not receive a vote and did not become law in the 117th Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Finding Alternatives to Mass Incarceration: Lives Improved by Ending Separation Act of 2021 or the FAMILIES Act
This bill establishes a federal statutory framework to divert certain defendants who are parents or caregivers away from prison and probation and into a comprehensive support services program.
At the federal level, the bill establishes and provides funds for the comprehensive support services program, or FAMILIES Program. The bill authorizes federal courts to sentence a parent or caregiver to participation in the FAMILIES Program as a condition of supervised release or instead of probation or prison.
At the state level, the bill funds grants for states to replicate successful state parenting sentencing alternatives programs that have the potential to keep parents out of prison.
The bill also provides funds for a study on the effects of incarceration on children of incarcerated parents and for training district court judges to carry out the FAMILIES Program.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 4709 do?
- H.R. 4709, the FAMILIES Act, would amend federal sentencing law to create an alternative to incarceration for certain federal defendants with caregiving responsibilities. It would establish a "FAMILIES Program" that federal courts could impose instead of probation or a prison term for eligible individuals—defined to include parents of minor children, pregnant people, caregivers for minors, adults with disabilities, or elderly relatives, and spouses or partners of such individuals. Courts would weigh factors such as caregiving responsibilities, risk of harm to dependents, community ties, and criminal history before diverting a defendant into the program, which would provide education, job training, substance-use and mental-health treatment, parenting support, and help accessing benefits like health coverage, housing, SNAP, WIC, and TANF. The bill also limits when courts can impose fines or restitution on program participants, sets rules for handling violations (including protections after a relapse), and allows certain young offenders to have their records expunged upon successful completion. It also directs the Justice Department to fund grants supporting similar state-level programs. The bill would primarily affect federal defendants who have significant caregiving duties, along with judges, probation officials, the Justice Department, and Department of Health and Human Services, which would jointly develop and administer the program and related judicial training. The bill was introduced in the House on July 27, 2021, by Rep. Pramila Jayapal and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. It did not receive a vote and did not become law in the 117th Congress.
- Has H.R. 4709 become law?
- Not yet. As of 27 Jul 2021, H.R. 4709 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 4709?
- H.R. 4709 was sponsored by Rep. Pramila Jayapal [D-WA7] (Democrat-WA), with 9 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 4709?
- Introduced (27 Jul 2021).
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