NCJ Number
94535
Date Published
1983
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This hearing examines capital offenses by Federal Prisoners.
Abstract
A Senate capital punishment bill, S. 1765, provides the death penalty for those who murder while serving a life sentence. Those opposed to the reinstitution of the death penalty argue that it is not a proven deterrent. In the case of someone serving nonrevokable life sentence, however, it is the only possible deterrent. Such a person has little or nothing to lose by murdering a guard or a fellow inmate, unless it is his life. The death penalty for such prisoners is necessary to bring some semblance of order to the Federal prison system. In two separate incidents at the maximum security Federal prison in Maron, Illinois, prisoners sentenced to life and already in the control unit for inmates unable to live with the general prison population murdered two well-regarded correctional officers. The majority of the inmates in the control unit have been involved in fatal or near-fatal incidents in other prisons. The tragic murder of the two guards at Marion illustrates the need for the ultimate sanction. Under current Federal law, the death penalty is not an option. This is regardless of the gravity or reprehensibility of the crime. For the most heinous crimes, the strongest penalty available is life imprisonment, and even then there is not guarantee the sentence will be served to completion. Two witnesses testified, in addition to the opening statements of two senators.