Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Criminal Justice

DemocratDE

Criminal Justice207 votes · 61.1/100 consistent

Reform-orientedPunitive

341 roll calls on this member’s record are tagged Criminal Justice. 207 of them counted toward the score above: 94 toward “Reform-oriented” and 113 toward “Punitive”.

The other 134 did not count: 123 were roll calls whose direction on this issue could not be read confidently — mostly procedural motions — and 11 were ones they did not cast a yea or nay on. They are listed below anyway, marked as not scored, because a filtered list of votes is not a voting record.

Date	What was voted on	Voted	Counted as
1978-01-26	TO AMEND S. 1437 BY INCORPORATING THE TEXT OF S. 1585, THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION ACT OF 1977.S. 1437 · 95th Congress	Yea	Punitive
1978-01-25	TO TABLE SCOTT AMENDMENT #1115 TO S. 1437. AMENDMENT #1115 EMBODIES THE TEXT OF S. 1382, A BILL THAT INCREASES THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF CRIMES THAT ARE PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.S. 1437 · 95th Congress	Did not vote	Not a yea/nay
1978-01-25	TO TABLE DOLE AMENDMENT #1105 TO S. 1437. AMENDMENT #1105 ALLOWS THE DENIAL OF PRE-TRIAL RELEASE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF COMMITING MURDER, RAPE, ARMED KIDNAPPING, ARMED ROBBERY, AIRCRAFT HIJACKING IN WHICH A DEATH OCCURS, OR SEIZURE OF A HOSTAGE IN ORDER TO NEGOTIATE RELEASE OF ANOTHER ACCUSED INDIVIDUAL.S. 1437 · 95th Congress	Yea	Reform-oriented
1978-01-25	TO AMEND S. 1437 BY ALLOWING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO APPLY THEIR OWN STANDARDS OF OBSCENITY.S. 1437 · 95th Congress	Nay	Reform-oriented
1978-01-25	TO TABLE THE DOLE AMENDMENT #1104 (SEE RC 5) TO S. 1437.S. 1437 · 95th Congress	Yea	Direction not readable
1978-01-24	TO TABLE SCOTT AMENDMENT #1659 TO S. 1437. AMENDMENT #1659 STRIKES FROM THE BILL THE PROVISION FOR A UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION.S. 1437 · 95th Congress	Yea	Direction not readable
1978-01-24	TO TABLE THE SCOTT AMENDMENT #1660 TO S. 1437. AMENDMENT #1660 STRIKES FROM THE BILL A SECTION THAT GIVES THE DEFENDANT OR THE GOVERNMENT THE RIGHT TO APPEAL A SENTENCE THAT FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE REGULATIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE U.S. SENTENCING COMMISSION.S. 1437 · 95th Congress	Yea	Reform-oriented
1978-01-23	TO TABLE THE HART AMENDMENT TO S. 1437, THE BILL REVISING AND REFORMING THE CRIMINAL CODE OF THE UNITED STATES. HART AMENDMENT #1011 PROHIBITS IMPRISONMENT FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF REHABILITATION OF A DEFENDANT.S. 1437 · 95th Congress	Nay	Reform-oriented
1976-07-26	TO PASS S. 2212.S. 2212 · 94th Congress	Nay	Direction not readable
1976-07-26	TO AMEND S. 2212, BY LIMITING THE TERM OF SERVICE OF THE FBI DIRECTOR TO 1 TEN-YEAR TERM.S. 2212 · 94th Congress	Yea	Reform-oriented
1976-07-23	TO AMEND S. 2212, BY REQUIRING THAT 19.15% OF THE TOTAL APPROPRIATION FOR LEAA BE ALLOCATED FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.S. 2212 · 94th Congress	Yea	Reform-oriented
1976-07-22	TO TABLE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH THE SENATE REJECTED THE BIDEN AMENDMENT (SEE R.C. 404) TO S. 2212.S. 2212 · 94th Congress	Nay	Direction not readable
1976-07-22	TO AMEND S. 2212, BY EXTENDING FOR 3 YEARS, INSTEAD OF 5 YEARS LEAA AUTHORIZATIONS.S. 2212 · 94th Congress	Yea	Direction not readable
1976-07-22	TO AMEND S. 2212, WHICH AUTHORIZES FUNDS THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 1981 FOR PROGRAMS OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION. AMENDMENT EXTENDS AUTHORITY OF LEAA FOR 15 MONTHS INSTEAD OF 5 YEARS.S. 2212 · 94th Congress	Yea	Direction not readable
1976-07-19	TO PASS H.R. 366.H.R. 366 · 94th Congress	Yea	Reform-oriented
1976-07-19	TO AGREE TO THE REMAINDER OF THE MANSFIELD AMENDMENT TO H.R. 366 PROVIDING COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME.H.R. 366 · 94th Congress	Yea	Reform-oriented
1976-07-19	TO AGREE TO DIVISION 2 OF THE MANSFIELD AMENDMENT TO H.R. 366. THE MANSFIELD AMENDMENT PROVIDES COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME.H.R. 366 · 94th Congress	Yea	Reform-oriented
1976-07-19	TO AGREE TO DIVISION 1 OF THE MANSFIELD AMENDMENT TO H.R. 366. THE MANSFIELD AMENDMENT PROVIDES COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES.H.R. 366 · 94th Congress	Yea	Reform-oriented
1976-07-19	TO SUSTAIN THE RULING OF THE CHAIR THAT MANSFIELD AMENDMENT TO S. 366, TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES, WAS NOT GERMANE TO THE BILL. (A "NO" VOTE IS TO OVERTURN THE RULING.)H.R. 366 · 94th Congress	Yea	Direction not readable
1976-07-19	TO TABLE THE APPEAL FROM THE RULING OF THE CHAIR WHICH RULED THE MANSFIELD AMENDMENT (SEE VAR. 389) NONGERMANE TO THE PROVISIONS OF H.R. 366. THE MANSFIELD AMENDMENT PROVIDES COMPENSATION FOR THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME.H.R. 366 · 94th Congress	Yea	Direction not readable
1976-07-19	TO AMEND H.R. 366, TO PROVIDE BENEFITS TO SURVIVORS OF CERTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS WHO DIE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTY, BY ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM.H.R. 366 · 94th Congress	Yea	Direction not readable
1975-12-09	TO TABLE MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH THE SENATE PASSED S. 2757, EXTENDING THE AUTHORITY OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE REVIEW OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS RELATING TO WIRETAPPING AND ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE.S. 2757 · 94th Congress	Nay	Direction not readable
1974-07-25	TO PASS S.821, PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL APPROACH TO PROBLEMS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.S. 821 · 93rd Congress	Yea	Reform-oriented
1974-07-25	TO AMEND S.821, PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL APPROACH TO PROBLEMS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, BY CLARIFYING LANGUAGE RELATING TO EMPLOYEE'S PROTECTION.S. 821 · 93rd Congress	Yea	Direction not readable
1974-03-13	TO PASS S. 1401.S. 1401 · 93rd Congress	Nay	Reform-oriented
1974-03-13	TO RECOMMIT S. 1401.S. 1401 · 93rd Congress	Yea	Reform-oriented
1974-03-13	TO TABLE SEN. KENNEDYS' AMENDMENT TO S.1401 TO PROHIBIT THE MANUFACTURE WITHIN THE U.S. OF SO-CALLED "SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL" HANDGUNS.S. 1401 · 93rd Congress	Nay	Direction not readable
1974-03-13	TO TABLE SEN. KENNEDY'S AMENDMENT TO S. 1401, TO BAN THE SALE OF CHEAP HANDGUNS, REQUIRE REGISTRATION OF ALL HANDGUNS, REQUIRE REGISTRATION OF ALL HANDGUNS, AND REQUIRE LICENSING OF ALL HANDGUN OWNERS.S. 1401 · 93rd Congress	Yea	Direction not readable
1974-03-13	TO AMEND S. 1401 BY REQUIRING EXECUTIONS TO BE CONDUCTED BEFORE THE PUBLIC.S. 1401 · 93rd Congress	Nay	Direction not readable
1974-03-13	TO AMEND S. 1401, BY INCREASING THE DEGREE OF PROOF FOR THE AGGRAVATING FACTORS FROM THE STANDARD OF "PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE" TO THE STANDARD "BEYOND A RESONABLE DOUBT."S. 1401 · 93rd Congress	Yea	Reform-oriented
1974-03-13	TO AMEND S. 1401 BY PERMITTING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DIRECT THE U.S. ATTORNEY TO STIPULATE THAT RELEASE OF HOSTAGES WAS A MITIGATING FACTOR.S. 1401 · 93rd Congress	Yea	Reform-oriented
1974-03-13	TO TABLE SEN. KENNEDY'S AMENDMENT TO TO S. 1401, WHICH WOULD PERMIT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DIRECT THE U.S. ATTORNEY TO STIPULATE THAT RELEASE OF HOSTAGES WAS A MITIGATING FACTOR.S. 1401 · 93rd Congress	Nay	Reform-oriented
1974-03-13	TO AMEND S. 1401, BY PROHIBITING THE EXECUTION OF A PREGNANTS. 1401 · 93rd Congress	Yea	Reform-oriented
1974-03-13	TO AMEND S. 1401, A BILL TO ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR THE MANDATORY IMPOSITION OF THE SENTENCE OF DEATH, BY MAKING THE DEATH PENALTY PERMISSIVE RATHER THAN MANDATORY IF AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES EXIST.S. 1401 · 93rd Congress	Nay	Punitive
1973-06-28	TO AMEND H.R. 8152 TO REDUCE FROM 5 YEARS TO 2 YEARS THE PERIOD FOR WHICH THE MONEY IS AUTHORIZED.H.R. 8152 · 93rd Congress	Did not vote	Direction not readable
1973-06-28	TO AMEND H.R. 8152 TO PROVIDE FOR DIRECT GRANTS TO INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS.H.R. 8152 · 93rd Congress	Did not vote	Direction not readable
1973-06-28	TO AMEND H.R. 8152, A BILL PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE OMNIBUS CRIME CONTROL AND SAFE STREETS ACT, SO AS TO REQUIRE 75% OF BLOCK GRANT FUNDS UNDER PART C OF THE OMNIBUS CRIME CONTROL AND SAFE STREETS ACT TO BE GIVEN DIRECTLY TO THE STATES AND ELIGIBLE UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.H.R. 8152 · 93rd Congress	Did not vote	Direction not readable
1973-04-03	TO PASS S. 800.S. 800 · 93rd Congress	Yea	Punitive
1973-04-03	TO AMEND S.800 SO AS TO PROVIDE MANDATORY SENTENCES FOR PERSONS CONVICTED AS PUSHERS OF HARD NARCOTICS WHO ARE NOT ADDICTS THEMSELVES.S. 800 · 93rd Congress	Yea	Punitive
1973-04-03	TO AMEND S. 800 SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SENTENCES FOR COMMISSION OF A FELONY WITH THE USE OF A FIREARM.S. 800 · 93rd Congress	Yea	Punitive
1973-04-03	TO TABLE TALMADGE (D,GA)-BAYH (D,IND) AMENDMENT TO S.800, OMNIBUS VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT OF 1973. TALMADGE-BAYH AMENDMENT RELATES TO SENTENCES FOR FELONIES WITH FIRE-ARMS AND FOR DRUG-PUSHERS.S. 800 · 93rd Congress	Nay	Punitive

Sorted newest first. “Counted as” is which end of the Reform-oriented / Punitive axis the vote moved this member toward, using the direction recorded for this issue on that roll call. Open any row to see the full measure, the tally, and the reason that direction was assigned.