NCJ Number
105120
Date Published
1986
Length
61 pages
Annotation
Testimony before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Criminal Law addresses the Armed Career Criminal Act Amendments (S. 2312), which would make any violent crime and a serious drug offense subject to enhanced penalties.
Abstract
The 1984 Armed Career Criminal Act provides at least 15 years in prison for armed felons whose previous convictions included three or more State or Federal convictions for robbery or burglary. Sentence suspension, probation, and parole are specifically excluded for such offenders. S. 2312 would expand the coverage of the act by broadening the class of predicate crimes that made an armed person a 'career' criminal. It would apply the minimum 15-year sentence to persons who have three prior convictions for a violent crime, a serious drug offense, or both. Testimony by representatives of the Justice and Treasury Departments; U.S. attorneys from Harrisburg, Pa., and Washington, D.C.; and a representative of the National District Attorney's Association supports the legislation, with some suggestions for clarification. Witnesses believe the bill will achieve increased incapacitation of those offenders who are committing the majority of dangerous crimes. ABI rcb