Madeleine Dean (D-PA)
Improving Justice Programs through Science Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Improving Justice Programs through Science Act of 2026. It creates a new Science Advisory Board inside the Department of Justice. This board will have 26 members made up of academic experts and justice professionals. Their main job is to advise the Attorney General on research and science related to the criminal and juvenile justice systems. The board must meet regularly to discuss research, help plan programs, and offer input on policy development. Finally, the Attorney General must send yearly status reports about this board to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +4
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill incorporates academic researchers and scientific experts into the Department of Justice's advisory structure.
- Scored +4
Does this put more money into medical research?
The bill establishes a Science Advisory Board to guide the Department of Justice on research, statistics, and science-backed programs.
- Scored +3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The legislation requires annual status and activity reports from the Attorney General to congressional judiciary committees.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2 (Sec. 110(a)(2)): This provision sets up a board to foster dialogue between academic experts and justice communities, which helps ensure that policies are based on real research.
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Section 2 (Sec. 110(c)(1)(C)): This provision requires the board to include at least eight researchers in fields like statistics, social sciences, or biological sciences, bringing expert scientific knowledge directly to justice programs.
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Section 2 (Sec. 110(d)(4)): This provision allows the board to serve as a point of contact for the academic and practitioner communities, which helps the public understand how research and grant programs impact the justice field.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any specific sections or provisions that outline potential negative consequences, burdens, or harms for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation requires annual status and activity reports from the Attorney General to congressional judiciary committees. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill creates a new federal Science Advisory Board within the Department of Justice appointed by the Attorney General.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill incorporates academic researchers and scientific experts into the Department of Justice's advisory structure.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill establishes a Science Advisory Board to guide the Department of Justice on research, statistics, and science-backed programs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The legislation promotes evidence-based policy and research integration within federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies.
- 10/5/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Mary Gay ScanlonDemocrat · Pennsylvania