NCJ Number
145480
Date Published
1991
Length
283 pages
Annotation
This is a proposal to restore the Federal death penalty, to reform the exclusionary rule, to limit the use of habeas corpus petitions, to create new firearm offenses and penalties and to adopt other modifications to the Federal criminal code.
Abstract
This is a proposal submitted by the Bush Administration to Congress containing a broad spectrum of reforms to the Federal criminal justice system and creating new offenses and penalties for various life-threatening criminal behavior. Among the key provisions of the proposal are restoration of the Federal death penalty for certain offenses and authorization of the death penalty for drug kingpins and for certain heinous acts such as terrorist murders of Americans abroad, killing of hostages, and murder for hire. The proposal recommends limiting the ability of Federal and State prisoners to file repetitive habeas corpus petitions. The proposal recognizes a good faith exception to the exclusionary rule and includes a system for punishing Federal officers who violate the Fourth Amendment and for compensating victims of illegal searches. Increased firearms offenses and penalties would be created. Other provisions of the proposal would protect witnesses and others from violence and intimidation, address the problem of gang violence and serious juvenile offenders, combat terrorism, combat sexual violence and child abuse and provide for drug testing of offenders in the criminal justice system.