New federal database puts violent offenders' names, race, and addresses online forever

What it does

This bill requires the Attorney General to create a free, publicly searchable database of all people convicted of violent crimes (defined as crimes involving physical force or substantial risk thereof, punishable by more than 180 days imprisonment). States receiving federal law-enforcement grants must submit their violent-crime conviction records within 180 days or lose funding; the database updates quarterly and removes convictions that are expunged, vacated, or pardoned. The bill also requires the Attorney General to report on barriers to sharing criminal records between states and federal agencies.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core mechanism is establishing a centralized, searchable public database of violent-crime convictions to increase transparency and public safety awareness. While named after an individual (Logan), the legislation itself is a straightforward public-records initiative, not a commemorative or vanity measure.

What the text implies

• Searchability by race and citizenship status may enable discriminatory screening by employers, landlords, or vigilantes, amplifying existing racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
• Permanent public listing of violent convictions—even after expungement, vacation, or pardon—creates lasting reputational harm and barriers to employment and housing, potentially undermining rehabilitation and reentry.
• Tying state funding (Byrne JAG grants) to database compliance creates federal coercion of state criminal-justice data submission, raising federalism concerns and potentially forcing states to share records they would otherwise protect.
• The database does not distinguish between convictions resulting from guilty pleas (often coerced) and those from trial, potentially conflating different levels of culpability in public perception.
• Quarterly updates and broad searchability may enable real-time tracking and harassment of individuals, particularly those in vulnerable populations.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The database increases public transparency and may help citizens, employers, and landlords make informed decisions about safety and hiring; however, it creates permanent public stigma and reputational harm for individuals with violent convictions (including those later exonerated or pardoned), raises privacy concerns for searchability by race and citizenship status, and may disproportionately affect people of color given documented disparities in violent-crime convictions.

Named in the bill

Attorney General, Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Byrne JAG grant program, State law enforcement agencies, Tribal organizations

Where it stands

11 cosponsors: 11 Republicans.

• Apr 30, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Apr 30, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.