SOS Act of 2026

Key Points

• The SOS Act creates a $10 billion federal grant program over five years (2027–2031) to help states crack down on repeat violent offenders. States that qualify can use the money to build prisons, expand capacity, and train correctional staff.
• To qualify for grants, states must require repeat offenders to serve at least 85% of their sentence, mandate pretrial detention for violent individuals who are a clear threat, and impose life imprisonment under a 'three strikes' rule for three separate violent crimes.
• Grant money must be spent on building secure correctional facilities, expanding operational capacity to lock up violent offenders, and training and supporting correctional staff — essentially funding a major prison expansion.
• The Attorney General must launch the grant program within 180 days of the bill becoming law. States would apply directly to the Department of Justice for funding.
• Many states would need to significantly change their sentencing laws to meet the bill's requirements, particularly the mandatory life sentence for a third violent offense and the 85% minimum time served for repeat offenders. This could dramatically increase state prison populations over time.

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