Violent Criminal Incarceration Act of 1995

Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Truth in Sentencing Title II: Stopping Abusive Prisoner Lawsuits Title III: Stop Turning Out Prisoners Violent Criminal Incarceration Act of 1995 - Title I: Truth in Sentencing - Revises the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (VCCLEA) to authorize the Attorney General to provide grants to eligible States and to eligible States organized as a regional compact (eligible States) to build, expand, and operate: (1) space in correctional facilities in order to increase the prison bed capacity in such facilities for the confinement of persons convicted of a serious violent felony; and (2) temporary to permanent correctional facilities, including facilities on military bases, for the confinement of convicted nonviolent offenders and criminal aliens for the purpose of freeing suitable existing prison space for the confinement of persons convicted of a serious violent felony. Limits eligible States to receiving either a general grant or a truth-in- sentencing incentive grant. Requires a State, to be eligible to receive general grant funds, to submit an application to the Attorney General that provides assurances (general grant requirements) that such State since 1993 has increased: (1) the percentage of convicted violent offenders sentenced to prison; (2) the average prison time actually to be served in prison by such offenders; and (3) the percentage of sentence to be actually served in prison by violent offenders sentenced to prison. Requires a State, to be eligible to receive truth-in-sentencing incentive grants, to submit an application to the Attorney General that provides assurances that the State has enacted laws and regulations which include: (1) truth-in-sentencing laws which either currently require or within three years will require that persons convicted of a serious violent felony serve not less than 85 percent of the sentence imposed or 85 percent of the court-ordered maximum sentence for States that practice indeterminate sentencing; and (2) laws requiring that the sentencing or releasing authorities notify and allow the victims of the defendant or the family of such victims the opportunity to be heard regarding the issue of sentencing and any postconviction release. Makes a State eligible for grants under this Act notwithstanding the general grant requirements if the State practices indeterminant sentencing and the average times served in such State for murder, rape, robbery, and assault exceed, by ten percent or greater, the national average of times served for such offenses. Specifies that such requirements shall apply except that a State may provide that the Governor of the State may allow for the release of a prisoner over age 70 after a public hearing in which representatives of the public and the prisoner's victims have an opportunity to be heard regarding a proposed release. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the formula for determining the amount of funds that each State may receive; (2) accounting, audit, and reporting requirements; and (3) limitations on funds. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Stopping Abusive Prisoner Lawsuits - Amends the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act to prohibit any civil action for deprivation of rights from being brought by an adult convicted of a crime confined in any correctional facility until available plain, speedy, and effective administrative remedies are exhausted. (Sec. 202) Requires the court to dismiss any such action if satisfied that the action fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted or is frivolous or malicious. (Sec. 203) Repeals a provision requiring that the minimum standards provide for an advisory role for employees and inmates in the formulation, implementation, and operation of the system. (Sec. 204) Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize the court to request an attorney to represent a person financially unable to employ counsel (current law) at any time. Requires (current law authorizes) the court to dismiss the case if the allegation of poverty is untrue, or if satisfied that the action is frivolous or malicious. Requires: (1) a prisoner in a correctional institution who files an affidavit of indigence to include a statement of all assets such prisoner possesses; and (2) the court to make inquiry of the institution for information relating to the extent of the prisoner's assets and to require full or partial payment of filing fees according to the prisoner's ability to pay. Title III: Stop Turning Out Prisoners - Revises provisions of the VCCLEA regarding judicial remedies with respect to prison conditions. Specifies that prospective relief in a civil action with respect to prison conditions shall extend no further than necessary to remove the conditions that are causing the deprivation of the Federal rights of individual plaintiffs in that action. Prohibits the court from granting or approving any prospective relief unless it finds that the relief is narrowly drawn and the least intrusive means to remedy the violation of the Federal right. Directs the court, in determining the intrusiveness of the relief, to give substantial weight to any adverse impact on public safety or the operation of a criminal justice system caused by the relief. Prohibits the court, in any such action, from granting or approving any relief the purpose or effect of which is to reduce or limit the prison population unless the plaintiff proves that crowding is the primary cause of the deprivation of the Federal right and no other relief will remedy that deprivation. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) termination of relief (including provision for the automatic termination of prospective relief after a two-year period); (2) procedure for motions affecting prospective relief; (3) standing (grants standing to specified Federal, State, or local officials to oppose the imposition or continuation in effect of relief the purpose or effect of which is to reduce or limit the prison population and to intervene in any proceeding relating to that relief); (4) special masters; and (5) attorney's fees.

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

Timeline

1. 25 January 1995

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 25 January 1995

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 25 January 1995

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 31 January 1995

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

   Source: Committee

5. 1 February 1995

   Vote

   Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 11.

   Source: Committee

6. 1 February 1995

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

   Source: Committee

7. 6 February 1995

   Reported

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 104-21.

   Source: Committee

8. 6 February 1995

   Calendars

   Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 8.

   Source: Calendars

9. 6 February 1995

   Reported

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 104-21.

   Source: Committee

10. 8 February 1995

    Reported

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 63 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 667 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered except motion to recommit. Bill is open to amendments. It shall be in order to consider the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule for a period not to exceed ten hours. The Chair may accord priority in recognition to Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the Record. Such amendments are considered as read.

    Source: Floor

11. 9 February 1995

    Floor

    Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 667 as unfinished business.

    Source: Floor

12. 9 February 1995

    Floor

    The Speaker designated the Honorable Jim Kolbe to act as Chairman of the Committee.

    Source: Floor

13. 9 February 1995

    Floor

    House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 63 and Rule XXIII.

    Source: Floor

14. 9 February 1995

    Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 667 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered except motion to recommit. Bill is open to amendments. It shall be in order to consider the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule for a period not to exceed ten hours. The Chair may accord priority in recognition to Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the Record. Such amendments are considered as read.

    Source: Floor

15. 9 February 1995

    Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 63. (consideration: CR H1479-1530)

    Source: Floor

16. 9 February 1995

    Passed

    Rule H. Res. 63 passed House.

    Source: Floor

17. 10 February 1995

    Passed

    The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

    Source: Floor

18. 10 February 1995

    Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

    Source: Floor

19. 10 February 1995

    Floor

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the unanimous consent agreement of Thursday, Feb. 11, 1995, debate on all amendments offered will be limited to 20 minutes each, 10 minutes allocated to the proponent and 10 minutes allocated to the opponent.

    Source: Floor

20. 10 February 1995

    Floor

    The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

    Source: Floor

21. 10 February 1995

    Floor

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1561-1585)

    Source: Floor

22. 10 February 1995

    Floor

    The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 667.

    Source: Floor

23. 10 February 1995

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

24. 10 February 1995

    Vote

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 265 - 156 (Roll no. 117).

    Source: Floor

25. 10 February 1995

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 265 - 156 (Roll no. 117).

    Source: Floor

26. 10 February 1995

    Vote

    On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 193 - 227 (Roll no. 116). (consideration: CR H1585)

    Source: Floor

27. 10 February 1995

    Floor

    The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

    Source: Floor

28. 10 February 1995

    Floor

    Mr. Conyers moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.

    Source: Floor

29. 10 February 1995

    Floor

    The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 667.

    Source: Floor

30. 22 February 1995

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

31. 27 July 1995

    Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Referred in Senate · 22 February 1995 · Download file
• Engrossed in House · 10 February 1995 · Download file
• Reported in House · 6 February 1995 · Download file
• Introduced in House · 25 January 1995 · Download file

Documents

10 official files

• Referred in Senate (text)

  Referred in Senate · EN · 22 February 1995

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• Referred in Senate (PDF)

  Referred in Senate · EN · 22 February 1995

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• Engrossed in House (text)

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• Engrossed in House (PDF)

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• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 10 February 1995

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• Reported in House (text)

  Reported in House · EN · 6 February 1995

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• Reported in House (PDF)

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• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 25 January 1995

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• Introduced in House (PDF)

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• Introduced in House

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Sponsors

• Rep. McCollum, Bill [R-FL-8] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Bryant, Ed [R-TN-7] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Bliley, Tom [R-VA-7] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. English, Phil [R-PA-3] · R · Cosponsor
• · ssju00 · Standing
• · hsju00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Providing for the consideration of the bill (H.R. 667) to control crime by incarcerating violent criminals.
• amends ← An amendment (printed as amendment No. 24 in the Congressional Record of February 8, 1995) to eliminate the prison grant program provisions of the bill and substitute a single block grant program with no "truth in sentencing" or matching fund requirements. The program would be funded at the same annual level as the total state prison funding provided in the 1994 Crime Control Act. Any unspent funds would return to the federal government after two years.
• amends ← An amendment to require a report to the Attorney General on the number of individuals who die while in custody at places of confinement.
• amends ← An amendment to expand the victim notification requirements in the bill to include notification of the local media and the convicting court prior to any sentencing or post conviction release.
• amends ← An amendment (numbered 17 as printed in the Congressional Record of February 8, 1995) to permit the states to use their prison grants to build, expand, and operate youth correctional facilities. Beginning in FY 1998, it also allows for the withholding of 15% of the grants otherwise available from any state that does not meet a specified criteria regarding juvenile crime.
• amends ← An amendment to permit the transfer of any unallocated funds made available in the bill for expenses of the Immigration and Nationalization Service for investigators and for expenses of the Bureau of Prisons, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorneys for activities and operations related to the investigation and prosecution of persons accused of serious violent felonies.
• amends ← An amendment (printed as amendment No. 30 in the Congressional Record of February 8, 1995) to bar luxury personal items from correctional facilities. It requires all inmates to work full 40-hour weeks and imposes tougher restrictions on violent offenders. It also directs the Bureau of Prisons to conduct an annual report on prison expenses, comparing spending on amenities with investments in security and basic needs.
• amends ← An amendment to require states to actually demonstrate declining crime rates since 1993 in order to qualify for general prison grants.
• amends ← An amendment (printed as amendment No. 16 in the Congressional Record of February 8, 1995) to make technical corrections to the bill clarifying that consensual out-of-court settlements are not liable to court enforcement from the limits the bill places on prospective relief settlements.

Showing 9 of 26 related records.