House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said mens rea reform will not be dropped from criminal justice and sentencing reform legislation stalled in the House.
“Absolutely not,” Goodlatte replied when asked at the Washington Post’s Criminal Justice Summit in Washington, D.C., if he would drop the issue of mens rea reform in order to pass sentencing or prison reform.
Mens rea, which is Latin for “guilty mind,” is the requirement in some cases for prosecutors to prove defendants knew their conduct was a violation of federal law before they can be charged.
While Republicans support mens rea reform, in essence expanding the types of cases that must have that requirement, Democrats do not. Those against mens rea reform say it would make it more difficult for prosecutors to go after white-collar or corporate crime offenders.
Goodlatte cited support from Reps. John Conyers of Michigan and Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, two Democratic lawmakers in favor of mens rea reform legislation in the House. That mens rea legislation proposal was put forward by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., and stalled in the year.
“Criminal intent requirements ensure that honest, hard-working Americans do not become criminals because they accidentally do something unlawful or violate an obscure law,” Goodlatte and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, wrote in a joint op-ed in January.
Goodlatte added Tuesday that he is “optimistic” about sentencing reform passing in the House. And when asked if it will pass this year?
“I think it will,” he said.
