Theme 5

Ensure equal justice under the law

Status:

82% complete

Select another theme below to explore further:

  • Theme 1

    Improve access to government data, research, and information

  • Theme 2

    Increase civic space to engage the public

  • Theme 3

    Transform government service delivery

  • Theme 4

    Counter corruption and ensure government integrity and accountability to the public

Commitments

Invest in community violence intervention and alternatives to address social crises

Federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, and Department of Homeland Security, are focusing resources on those most likely to engage in or be victimized by gun violence. They aim to intervene in conflicts and connect people to social, health, wellness, and economic services.


Sub-commitment 
US0143.1

Description 
The federal government commits to expanding alternative strategies to address the mental health and substance use crises, like funding mobile crisis response units.

Agency and subagency 
Department of Health and Human Services 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Status 
Complete

Progress update: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) supported the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BoP) as it worked to integrate use of all three medications for Opioid Use Disorder in all their facilities.  Clinical guidance and support were provided for the BoP healthcare team, and SAMHSA assisted them in determining the most efficacious model of OUD treatment within their system.  This goal is complete, and SAMHSA will remain a partner and available to the BoP as it evolves its services.

Evidence: BOP: Inmate Substance Abuse Treatment


Sub-commitment 
US0143.2

Description 
The federal government commits to supporting the implementation of a dedicated 988 suicide and crisis care hotline.

Agency and subagency 
Department of Health and Human Services 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Status 
In progress

Progress Update: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the 988 Network Administrator, and the Federal Communications Commission have been working with all of the major U.S. cell phone carriers for more than a year to improve call routing to 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline so that callers using cell phones can be connected to centers that are better equipped to provide a localized response. This Fall, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline announced the activation of enhanced routing capabilities for two major U.S. wireless carriers that combined make up half of all wireless calls to 988. A third national carrier is expected to activate this winter, within the implementation timeline required by the FCC. With georouting in place, callers are connected to 988 crisis contact centers closer to their physical location, which helps 988 counselors to more quickly connect people to local services and resources when they need additional on-the-ground support.

Evidence: Wireless Calls to 988 Get a More Localized Response with Georouting


Sub-commitment 
US0143.3

Description 
The federal government commits to harm-reduction, treatment, and recovery support for people with substance use disorders, including in prisons and jails.

Agency and subagency 
Department of Health and Human Services 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Status 
In progress

Progress update: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s Community Crisis Response Partnerships (CCRP) program supports the development of new, or the enhancement of existing Mobile Crisis Response Teams that respond to mental health crises in community settings.  These teams have been demonstrated to reduce emergency department visits, psychiatric inpatient admissions, and arrests. Mobile Crisis Teams connect individuals with treatment and community resources and intervene to prevent suicide deaths. SAMHSA’s CCRP program began in FY 2022, with twelve grant recipients, and increased to a total of 25 active grantees after a second cohort was awarded in FY2023. From the program’s inception through September 2024, the grantees have successfully screened 29,464 individuals for suicide ideation, resolved approximately 70% of all crisis response requests in the community, referred 13,047 to mental health services for suicide risk, and confirmed diversion from law enforcement for 4,741 individuals experiencing behavioral health crisis. In fiscal year 2024, the average response time from dispatch to arrival, across all grantees was 34 minutes.

Evidence: There are no new publications or publicly available links to reference.


Sub-commitment 
US0143.4

Description 
The federal government commits to broadening access to social workers, psychologists, and mental health counselors in schools and communities across the country.

Agency and subagency 
U.S. Department of Education 
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools

Status 
Complete

Improve conditions of confinement and addressing unjustly long or severe sentences

The federal government aims to improve conditions in the criminal justice system.  The Administration remains committed to better confinement conditions and reducing unjust sentences.


Sub-commitment
US0144.0

Description
Going forward, the U.S. Department of Justice will commit to continuing to implement rules that allow individuals to earn credits for good conduct and for participating in programming designed to reduce recidivism.

Agency and subagency
U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Prisons

Status
Complete

Expand social and economic supports for justice-impacted individuals

Research shows that individuals reentering society after incarceration often lack support for stable housing, employment, and social connections, leading to recidivism. Federal agencies initiated more than 20 actions to aid returning citizens including a robust re-entry program, additional job training and re-entry support, offering Pell Grants, and increasing access to loan programs.


Sub-commitment
US0145.1

Description
The U.S. Department of Education is partnering with the U.S. Department of Justice to prepare for the full reinstatement of Pell Grant eligibility within correctional facilities in June 2023.

Agency and subagency
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Federal Student Aid

Status
Complete


Sub-commitment
US0145.2

Description
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is also comprehensively reviewing its existing regulations and guidance to identify how the agency’s housing programs can increase inclusivity for people with arrest and conviction records.

Agency and subagency
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

Status
Complete


Sub-commitment
US0145.3

Description
The Administration is accounting for the digital economy by ensuring that incarcerated and formerly incarcerated persons are included in programs to expand high-speed internet access, technology, and digital education and access programs to close the digital divide.

Agency and subagency
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Status
Complete

Implement the president’s historic commitment on marijuana-related federal offenses

The criminalization of marijuana possession has disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities. The Administration issued a proclamation pardoning citizens and legal residents convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law or D.C. Code and has directed a review of marijuana’s scheduling under federal law and is encouraging governors to pardon state-level offenses.


Sub-commitment
US0146.1

Description
The federal government commits to implementing this proclamation, including by issuing certificates to eligible applicants who were convicted or charged with marijuana possession.

Agency and subagency
Executive Office of the President
Domestic Policy Council

Status
Complete


Sub-commitment
US0146.2

Description
President Biden has asked the secretary of Health and Human Services and the attorney general to initiate a process to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.

Agency and subagency
Executive Office of the President
Domestic Policy Council

Status
Complete


Sub-commitment
US0146.3

Description
The federal government will continue to encourage governors to follow the federal government’s lead with regard to state offenses, since most marijuana prosecutions take place at the state level.

Agency and subagency
Executive Office of the President
Domestic Policy Council

Status
Complete

Improving data availability to promote effective and accountable policing and criminal justice practices

Public trust in the criminal justice system requires transparency and accountability. The attorney general will create the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database to track officer misconduct and commendations, with contributions encouraged from all levels of law enforcement. The government will explore public access to some records while ensuring privacy and safety.


Sub-commitment
US0147.1

Description
To support greater transparency and accountability in our criminal justice system, the executive order directed the attorney general to establish the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database as a centralized repository of official records documenting instances of law enforcement officer misconduct as well as commendations and awards for all federal law enforcement agencies.

Agency and subagency
U.S. Department of Justice
Justice Management Division

Status
Complete


Sub-commitment
US0147.2

Description
The federal government commits to assessing the feasibility of what database records may be accessible to the public, taking into account the critical need for public trust, transparency and accountability, as well as safety, privacy, and due process concerns.

Agency and subagency
U.S. Department of Justice
Bureau of Justice Statistics

Status
Complete


Sub-commitment
US0147.3

Description
Publishing regular public reports based on anonymized data from the database once the database is established.

Agency and subagency
U.S. Department of Justice
Bureau of Justice Statistics

Status
In progress

Progress update: DOJ is preparing the first annual report on NLEAD and will publish it in December 2024.

Evidence:


Sub-commitment
US0147.4

Description
The subcommittee commits to launching an interagency working group on criminal justice statistics with representatives from relevant offices across the federal government. To inform that report, the working group will launch a 60-day comment period and host a series of listening sessions to solicit input from members of the public across the nation.

Agency and subagency
Executive Office of the President
Office of Science and Technology Policy

Status
Complete


Sub-commitment
US0147.5

Description
The working group will look for feedback on how to improve law enforcement agency data collection, use, and transparency to inform policies, protocols, and procedures that will result in more equitable, effective, and accountable policing outcomes.

Agency and subagency
Executive Office of the President
Office of Science and Technology Policy

Status
Complete

Increase access to justice

Legal services are crucial for justice and stability, yet low-income Americans often lack adequate legal aid, leading to poverty and poor defense in criminal cases.


Sub-commitment
US0148.0

Description
The Office for Access to Justice and the White House Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable commit to continue work across agencies to increase access to justice for individuals.

Agency and subagency
Executive Office of the President
Domestic Policy Council

Status
Complete

Progress update: LAIR is preparing its annual report, this year centered on data and research. The report will be published in December 2024. LAIR will also hold its annual principal-level convening on December 9.

Evidence: Once published, the 2024 LAIR Report will be available on the LAIR website.