A bill to amend titles 18 and 29 of the United States Code, to eliminate, and establish an alternative to the exclusionary rule in Federal criminal proceedings.

Summary

Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that evidence shall not be excluded from a criminal proceeding because it was obtained in violation of the fourth amendment to the United States Constitution. Makes the United States liable for damages resulting from a search or seizure conducted by a law enforcement officer acting within the scope of employment in violation of the fourth amendment. Permits recovery of actual and punitive damages not exceeding $25,000. Authorizes the court to award reasonable attorney fees. Limits recovery of a person convicted of an offense for which evidence was illegally seized to actual physical personal injury and property damages. Makes such remedy the exclusive civil remedy for a violation of the fourth amendment to the Constitution. Authorizes a Federal agency to discipline an officer who conducts an illegal search or seizure upon a determination, after notice and hearing, that the officer lacked a good faith belief that the search or seizure was constitutional.

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

Timeline

1. 8 February 1989

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 8 February 1989

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 24 February 1989

   Referred

   Referred to Subcommittee on Constitution.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · undated · Official file

Documents

2 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 8 February 1989

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] · R · Sponsor
• · ssju00 · Standing

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.