Prison Overcrowding Emergency Powers Act of 1987: Hearings on H.R. 2850 and H.J. Res. 341 Before the House Committee on the District of Columbia, 100th Congress, 1st Session, September 10 and October 7 and 8, 1987

• NCJ Number: 149938
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 168 pages
• Corporate Author: US Congress
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Legislative Hearing/Committee Report
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This document presents staff findings and the oral and written testimony before a House of Representatives Committee in 1987 regarding proposed legislation to address prison overcrowding in the District of Columbia.

Abstract

The proposed laws would allow the mayor to declare an emergency when the prison population exceeded its noted design capacity for 30 consecutive days and after all administrative options for reducing the prison population had been exhausted. Eligible prisoners would have to be within 180 days of release and could receive a sentence reduction of 90 days or less. Speakers at the hearings included officials of the District of Columbia and representatives of the police, prosecutor, and other agencies. Much of the testimony addressed pertinent court orders, crime data, the constitutionality of the law, and the role of Congress. The full committee convened on October 8 and unanimously voted to defeat H.J. Res. 341.