Congress Proposed National Violent Offender Registry
New legislation aims to create a public database for repeat violent felons modeled after sex offender systems.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Violence
Live Poll
Do you support creating a national registry for repeat violent offenders?
Rep. Mike Flood has introduced legislation to establish a national registry for repeat violent offenders that would allow public searches of offender information. Sen. Pete Ricketts submitted a companion bill to the U.S. Senate in September 2026.
Why it matters
The proposed Karly Rain Wood Act aims to increase public safety by alerting communities to the presence of individuals with multiple violent convictions. Supporters argue that public access to this data could help residents stay informed about potential threats in their neighborhoods.
The bill requires individuals with at least 2 qualifying violent offenses to register their name, address, and vehicle details. The specific procedural timeline for the committee review process has not yet been established.
The players
Mike Flood
He is a U.S. Congressman who introduced the legislation to the House.
Pete Ricketts
He is a U.S. Senator who submitted the companion bill for the legislation.
Karly Rain Wood
She was a 20-year-old victim of a fatal shooting in 2022 whose death inspired the bill.
Don Bacon
He is a U.S. Congressman and co-sponsor of the proposed legislation.
Amber Wood
She is a mother who created an advocacy website to encourage parent involvement in the legislative push.
The details
The program mirrors existing systems used for sex offenders, requiring repeat violent offenders to disclose personal information in a searchable national database. This legislative effort follows the 2022 shooting of 20-year-old Karly Rain Wood, where four guns were fired and the victim was struck eight times at 34th and Ames in Omaha.
Timeline
Karly Rain Wood was killed in a shooting in 2022.
Sen. Pete Ricketts submitted a companion bill in September 2026.
Legal Context
The proposed registry for violent offenders follows the administrative framework established by the national sex offender public website. This legislation extends the model of public registries currently used for sex offenders to include repeat violent felons.
If enacted, the bill would allow members of the public to search a national database for information regarding repeat violent offenders. Residents may gain new access to address and vehicle details of these individuals to help inform their own safety decisions.
The takeaway
This bill highlights a growing movement to apply registry-style oversight to categories of crime beyond sex offenses. Families of victims continue to leverage digital platforms to mobilize public support for legislative changes in local communities.
Further reading
For more on the national debate regarding criminal justice and public notification, visit the Violence section.
More information
For more information on the legislative goals and victim advocacy, visit the Karly Rain Wood Act advocacy website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wowt.
Live Poll
Do you support creating a national registry for repeat violent offenders?
