United States · Law · S
S. 2420 (97th)
Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982
Introduced
22 April 1982
Last action
12 October 1982 · Floor
Status
Became Public Law No: 97-291.
Sponsors
Sen. Heinz, John [R-PA], Sen. Laxalt, Paul D. [R-NV], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA], Sen. DeConcini, Dennis [D-AZ], Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT], Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM], Sen. Percy, Charles H. [R-IL], Sen. Kassebaum, Nancy Landon [R-KS], Sen. Cohen, William S. [R-ME], Sen. Durenberger, Dave [R-MN], Sen. Chiles, Lawton [D-FL], Sen. Glenn, John H., Jr. [D-OH], Sen. Pryor, David H. [D-AR], Sen. Burdick, Quentin N. [D-ND], Sen. Garn, E. J. (Jake) [R-UT], Sen. Dixon, Alan J. [D-IL], Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Sen. Ford, Wendell H. [D-KY], Sen. Moynihan, Daniel Patrick [D-NY], Sen. Mitchell, George J. [D-ME], Sen. Abdnor, James [R-SD], Sen. Eagleton, Thomas F. [D-MO], Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI], Sen. Exon, J. James [D-NE], Sen. Hayakawa, Samuel Ichiye [R-CA], Sen. Schmitt, Harrison H. [R-NM], Sen. Jackson, Henry M. [D-WA], Sen. Metzenbaum, Howard M. [D-OH], Sen. Melcher, John [D-MT], Sen. Danforth, John C. [R-MO], Sen. Matsunaga, Spark M. [D-HI], Sen. Thurmond, Strom [R-SC], Sen. Riegle, Donald W., Jr. [D-MI], Sen. Hawkins, Paula [R-FL], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. East, John P. [R-NC], Sen. Murkowski, Frank H. [R-AK], Sen. Mathias, Charles McC., Jr. [R-MD], Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE], Sen. Goldwater, Barry [R-AZ], Sen. Cannon, Howard W. [D-NV], Sen. Kasten, Robert W., Jr. [R-WI], Sen. Chafee, John H. [R-RI], Sen. Jepsen, Roger W. [R-IA], Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC], Sen. Randolph, Jennings [D-WV], Sen. Nickles, Don [R-OK]
Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
10 August 2026
Summary
Omnibus Victims Protection Act of 1982 - Title I: Victims Impact Statement - Amends rule 32 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to require that presentence reports contain information assessing the impact upon and cost to any person who was the victim of the offense. Title II: Protection of Victims and Witnesses from Intimidation - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish as offenses "tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant" and "retaliating against a witness or an informant." Amends the Bail Reform Act of 1966 to require as a condition of pretrial release that the defendant not commit these offenses. Grants general authority to the Attorney General to relocate or protect Government witnesses. Authorizes the Attorney General to initiate civil proceedings to restrain tampering with a witness or victim. Title III: Restitution - Authorizes a sentencing court to order the defendant to make restitution for any offense. Requires the court to state for the record the reasons for not ordering restitution. Directs the Attorney General to recommend to Congress laws necessary to compensate victims of crimes where restitution is not possible. Title IV: Federal Accountability for Escape or Release of a Federal Prisoner - Grants exclusive jurisdiction to the Federal courts over civil claims against the the United States for damages caused by dangerous offenders who are released or escape from the lawful custody of a U.S. employee as a result of such employee's gross negligence. Title V: Federal Guidelines for Fair Treatment of Crime Victims and Witnesses in the Criminal Justice System - Directs the Attorney General to develop Federal guidelines for the fair treatment of crime victims and witnesses. Requires the Attorney General to consider certain objectives in preparing the guidelines, including: (1) ensuring that victims receive prompt social and medical services; (2) giving victims and witnesses notice of important criminal justice proceedings and scheduling changes; (3) arranging for the prosecution to obtain the nonbinding views of victims of serious crimes during such stages as plea bargaining and pretrial release; (4) encouraging employers to continue to pay victims and witnesses for work absences to assist investigations and prosecutions; and (5) training law enforcement personnel in victim assistance. Title VI: Profit by a Criminal from Sale of his Story - Directs the Attorney General to recommend to Congress any laws that are necessary to ensure that no Federal felon derives any profit from the sale of his or her story until any victim of the offense receives restitution.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
22 April 1982
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
22 April 1982
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
3 May 1982
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Criminal Law.
Source: Committee
27 May 1982
Committee
Subcommittee on Criminal Law. Hearings held.
Source: Committee
29 July 1982
Committee
Subcommittee on Criminal Law. Approved for full committee consideration with amendments favorably.
Source: Committee
17 August 1982
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
19 August 1982
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Regular Orders. Calendar No. 769.
Source: Calendars
19 August 1982
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Thurmond with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 97-532.
Source: Committee
19 August 1982
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Thurmond with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 97-532.
Source: Committee
14 September 1982
Floor
Considered by Senate.
Source: Floor
14 September 1982
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
16 September 1982
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
29 September 1982
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Criminal Justice.
Source: Committee
30 September 1982
Passed
Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
30 September 1982
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
30 September 1982
Floor
Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Floor
30 September 1982
Discharge
House Committee on The Judiciary Discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Discharge
30 September 1982
Committee
House Committee on The Judiciary Discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Committee
1 October 1982
Passed
Resolving differences -- House actions: House Agreed to Senate Amendments to House Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
Source: NotUsed
1 October 1982
ResolvingDifferences
Senate concurred in the House amendments with an amendment (SU 1376) by Voice Vote.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
1 October 1982
NotUsed
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate concurred in the House amendments with an amendment (SU 1376) by Voice Vote.
Source: NotUsed
1 October 1982
Floor
Considered by Senate.
Source: Floor
1 October 1982
Passed
House Agreed to Senate Amendments to House Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
12 October 1982
Became law
Became Public Law No: 97-291.
Source: President
12 October 1982
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
12 October 1982
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
12 October 1982
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
12 October 1982
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
12 October 1982
Floor
Measure Signed in Senate.
Source: Floor
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.
Documents
6 official files
Public Law (PDF)
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Leesvertaling
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 13 October 1982
Senate agreed to House amendment with amendment
summary · EN · 1 October 1982
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 30 September 1982
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 14 September 1982
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 19 August 1982
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 22 April 1982
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Sen. Heinz, John [R-PA] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Laxalt, Paul D. [R-NV] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. DeConcini, Dennis [D-AZ] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Percy, Charles H. [R-IL] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Kassebaum, Nancy Landon [R-KS] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Cohen, William S. [R-ME] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Durenberger, Dave [R-MN] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Chiles, Lawton [D-FL] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Glenn, John H., Jr. [D-OH] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Pryor, David H. [D-AR] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Burdick, Quentin N. [D-ND] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Garn, E. J. (Jake) [R-UT] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Dixon, Alan J. [D-IL] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Ford, Wendell H. [D-KY] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Moynihan, Daniel Patrick [D-NY] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Mitchell, George J. [D-ME] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Abdnor, James [R-SD] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Eagleton, Thomas F. [D-MO] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Exon, J. James [D-NE] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Hayakawa, Samuel Ichiye [R-CA] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Schmitt, Harrison H. [R-NM] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Jackson, Henry M. [D-WA] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Metzenbaum, Howard M. [D-OH] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Melcher, John [D-MT] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Danforth, John C. [R-MO] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Matsunaga, Spark M. [D-HI] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Thurmond, Strom [R-SC] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Riegle, Donald W., Jr. [D-MI] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Hawkins, Paula [R-FL] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. East, John P. [R-NC] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Murkowski, Frank H. [R-AK] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Mathias, Charles McC., Jr. [R-MD] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Goldwater, Barry [R-AZ] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Cannon, Howard W. [D-NV] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Kasten, Robert W., Jr. [R-WI] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Chafee, John H. [R-RI] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Jepsen, Roger W. [R-IA] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Randolph, Jennings [D-WV] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Nickles, Don [R-OK] · R · Cosponsor
Showing 48 of 60 sponsors and actors.
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Direct relationships
- Legal framework · Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982 · S. 2420 (97th) · US
- Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 97-s-2420 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/97th-congress/senate-bill/2420
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/97/s/2420
- us · 97-s-2420 · source updated 10 August 2026