A bill to amend title 18 of the United States Code to modify the insanity defense in the Federal courts, and for other purposes.

Summary

Amends the Federal criminal code to make it a defense to a Federal prosecution that at the time of the offense the defendant suffered from a severe abnormal mental condition that grossly and demonstrably impaired his perception and understanding of reality so that he did not appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct. Places the burden of proving the existence of this defense by the preponderance of the evidence on the defendant. States that "abnormal mental condition" does not include voluntary intoxication. Authorizes a verdict of "not responsible only by reason of insanity," if the defendant would be guilty but for the defense provided. Amends the Federal Rules of Evidence to prohibit expert witnesses from offering opinions on the ultimate issue regarding mental incompetence. Provides for an initial screening examination to determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant lacks competence. Allows for a more thorough examination of the defendant if the initial results suggest incompetence. Requires a hearing on the issue of competence and further examination on the issues of the likelihood of the defendant's recovery and the appropriate treatment. Allows for treatment if necessary. Requires in-patient treatment only when the defendant is dangerous, likely to flee, or in custody. Transfers to State officials for State civil commitment certain defendants who have received the maximum treatment under this section or are found incompetent with no substantial probability of improvement. Requires a board of examiners for every Federal penal and correctional institution which shall examine prisoners about whom there is probable cause to believe competence at trial was lacking even though the issue was not raised and determined. Requires the district court concerned to vacate conviction and order a new trial for any prisoner about whom such a board certifies that such probable cause does exist. Allows a person serving a sentence of imprisonment to be transferred to a mental institution upon a showing of clear and convincing evidence that the prisoner is in need of treatment. Establishes Federal commitment procedures for persons found "not guilty only by reason of insanity". Provides for a special examination of violent offenders in order to determine their dangerousness. Provides for treatment of a person found not responsible only by reason of insanity. Provides procedures for conditional release in certain situations.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 16 June 1983

   Committee

   For Previous Action See H.R.1280.

   Source: Committee

2. 16 June 1983

   Introduced

   Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 16 June 1983

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 16 June 1983

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

5. 1 November 1983

   Reported

   Ordered to be Reported (Amended).

   Source: Committee

6. 1 November 1983

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

   Source: Committee

7. 21 November 1983

   Calendars

   Placed on Union Calendar No: 325.

   Source: Calendars

8. 21 November 1983

   Reported

   Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on The Judiciary. Report No: 98-577.

   Source: Committee

9. 21 November 1983

   Reported

   Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on The Judiciary. Report No: 98-577.

   Source: Committee

10. 18 September 1984

    Vote

    Failed to Receive 2/3's Vote to Suspend and Pass by Yea-Nay Vote: 225 - 171 (Record Vote No: 394).

    Source: Floor

11. 18 September 1984

    Vote

    Failed of passage/not agreed to in House: Failed to Receive 2/3's Vote to Suspend and Pass by Yea-Nay Vote: 225 - 171 (Record Vote No: 394).

    Source: Floor

12. 18 September 1984

    Floor

    Called up by House Under Suspension of Rules.

    Source: Floor

13. 12 October 1984

    Committee

    See H.J.Res.648.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

3 official files

• Failed of passage in House

  summary · EN · 18 September 1984

  Open at official source

• Reported to House with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 21 November 1983

  Open at official source

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 16 June 1983

  Open at official source

  Leesvertaling

  Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

  Vertaal naarNL · DutchDE · GermanFR · FrenchES · SpanishIT · ItalianPL · PolishPT · PortugueseSV · SwedishDA · DanishFI · FinnishEL · GreekCS · CzechHU · HungarianRO · RomanianBG · BulgarianHR · CroatianSK · SlovakSL · SlovenianLT · LithuanianLV · LatvianET · EstonianGA · IrishMT · Maltese

  Vertaal document

  Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Sponsors

• Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Edwards, Don [D-CA-10] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Seiberling, John F. [D-OH-14] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Hughes, William J. [D-NJ-2] · D · Cosponsor
• · hsju00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → A joint resolution making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1985, and for other purposes.
• related to → A bill to modify the insanity defense in the Federal courts, and for other purposes.