A bill to establish constitutional procedures for the imposition of the sentence of death, and for other purposes.

Summary

Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criteria for the imposition of the death penalty for Federal crimes. Requires the Government, for any offense punishable by death, to serve notice upon the defendant a reasonable time before trial or acceptance of a plea, that it intends to seek the death penalty and the aggravating factors upon which it will rely. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury, or the court upon motion by the defendant, when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to an offense punishable by death. Allows the defendant and the Government to present any information relevant to sentencing, without regard to the rules of evidence, but permits information to be excluded where its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading of the jury. Specifies mitigating factors which the defendant must establish by a preponderance of the information and aggravating factors which the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Includes as threshold, aggravating factors for homicide that the defendant: (1) intentionally killed the victim; (2) intentionally inflicted serious bodily injury which resulted in death of the victim; (3) intentionally participated in an act which he reasonably should have known would create grave risk of death to a person and the victim did die as a direct result of the act; or (4) attempted to kill the President of the United States. Sets forth special aggravating factors with respect to the crimes of treason, espionage, homicide, and attempted murder of the President. Includes among the mitigating factors that the defendant was less than 18 years old at the time of the crime. Directs the court, or the jury by unanimous vote, to impose the death penalty upon a finding that such sentence is justified based on consideration of both the aggravating and mitigating factors. Requires the court to instruct the jury not to consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant in its consideration of the sentence. Limits the circumstances under which the offense of delivering defense information to aid foreign governments is punishable by death. Allows the death penalty to be imposed for: (1) the murder of foreign officials, Federal judges, Federal law enforcement officers, or Federal penal or correction employees; and (2) an offense of kidnapping resulting in the death of any person. Eliminates the death penalty for the crime of rape. Authorizes the death penalty for the crime of attempting to kill the President of the United States if the attempt results in bodily injury to the President or otherwise comes dangerously close to causing his death. Establishes procedures for appeal from a death sentence. Requires the Court of Appeals, upon considering the record and the information and procedures of the sentencing hearing, to affirm the decision if: (1) the sentence was not imposed under influence of passion, prejudice, or arbitrariness; and (2) the information supports the finding of aggravating factors or the absence of mitigating factors. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination. Provides for the death penalty for murders committed by prisoners in Federal correctional institutions.

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Timeline

1. 22 January 1985

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 22 January 1985

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 8 May 1985

   Committee

   Committee on Judiciary requested executive comment from Justice Department.

   Source: Committee

4. 27 June 1985

   Committee

   Committee on Judiciary received executive comment from Justice Department.

   Source: Committee

5. 24 September 1985

   Committee

   Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 99-497.

   Source: Committee

6. 14 November 1985

   Committee

   Committee on Judiciary. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

   Source: Committee

7. 20 February 1986

   Reported

   Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.

   Source: Committee

8. 16 April 1986

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 612.

   Source: Calendars

9. 16 April 1986

   Reported

   Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Thurmond with amendments. With written report No. 99-282. Minority views filed.

   Source: Committee

10. 16 April 1986

    Reported

    Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Thurmond with amendments. With written report No. 99-282. Minority views filed.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

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

Documents

2 official files

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 16 April 1986

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 22 January 1985

  Open at official source

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Sponsors

• Sen. Thurmond, Strom [R-SC] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. DeConcini, Dennis [D-AZ] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. East, John P. [R-NC] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Simpson, Alan K. [R-WY] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Abdnor, James [R-SD] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Helms, Jesse [R-NC] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Long, Russell B. [D-LA] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Trible, Paul S., Jr. [R-VA] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Denton, Jeremiah [R-AL] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. D'Amato, Alfonse [R-NY] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Johnston, J. Bennett [D-LA] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Boren, David L. [D-OK] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Symms, Steven D. [R-ID] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Zorinsky, Edward [D-NE] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Laxalt, Paul D. [R-NV] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Pressler, Larry [R-SD] · R · Cosponsor
• · ssju00 · Standing

Related records

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