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104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3490

To amend title 18, United States Code, to reform Federal prisons.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 16, 1996

Mr. TATE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee

on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to reform Federal

prisons.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND FINDINGS.

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the

5 ‘‘Federal Prison Reform Act of 1996’’.

6 (b) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—

7 (1) criminals have become an increasing threat

8 to our personal safety;

9 (2) law-abiding citizens feel less secure and

10 more afraid because of the threat of crime, especially

11 violent crime;
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1 (3) unless criminals face serious consequences

2 for their actions, they will continue to threaten our

3 communities;

4 (4) criminals should pay dearly for violating our

5 laws and threatening our communities;

6 (5) Federal prisons must enforce real punish7 ment by ending the use of amenities, such as exer8 cise equipment, cable television, and pool tables; and

9 (6) prison incarceration should focus on the de10 velopment of a meaningful work ethic through hard

11 labor and stress the importance of responsibility,

12 self-control, discipline, and respect for law abiding

13 Americans.

14 SEC. 2. PRISON REFORM.

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 301 of title 18, United

16 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the follow17 ing:

18 ‘‘§ 4014. Federal prison standards

19 ‘‘(a) EFFECT OF OUTSIDE ACCREDITATION STAND20 ARDS.—Each Federal facility for the confinement of per21 sons convicted of offenses against the United States shall

22 insofar as practical observe the standards for prisoner liv23 ing space and other prison conditions that are established

24 by recognized prison accreditation agencies, but may fail

25 to meet any such standards when, in the judgment of pris-
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1 on officials, overcrowding, financial strain, prison size, ab2 sence of on-site facilities, or other circumstances make it

3 necessary to do so.

4 ‘‘(b) SPECIFIC STANDARDS.—Each Federal prison

5 shall observe the following rules:

6 ‘‘(1) MANUAL LABOR.—

7 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Prisoners shall spend

8 a minimum of 10 hours per day 6 days a week

9 doing manual labor, such as—

10 ‘‘(i) trash collection along Federal

11 highways and on Federal lands, including

12 national parks;

13 ‘‘(ii) unskilled manual labor, digging

14 ditches, breaking rocks, manually cutting

15 grass, or other menial work; or

16 ‘‘(iii) whatever work is deemed nec17 essary and appropriate at the discretion of

18 the warden.

19 ‘‘(B) DISPLACEMENT.—Labor under this

20 paragraph shall not result in the displacement

21 of privately employed workers.

22 ‘‘(2) CHAIN GANGS.—Chain gangs may be used

23 to satisfy the inmates, but in no case shall inmates

24 currently or previously sentenced for a crime of vio25 lence or a sex offense be eligible for a chain gang
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1 to satisfy such requirement. For the purposes of car2 rying out this paragraph, wardens or administrators

3 of the Federal system may handcuff, shackle, detain,

4 or immobilize inmates as necessary to protect the

5 safety of prison personnel and the public.

6 ‘‘(3) NUTRITION.—Federal prisoners shall re7 ceive no more than 3 meals per day. Each meal

8 must not exceed minimum nutritional guidelines re9 quired under the Constitution.

10 ‘‘(4) EXERCISE.—There shall be an area of ap11 propriate size for exercise, running, calisthenics, and

12 related activities. Machine exercise equipment, bar13 bells, dumbbells, free weights, treadmills,

14 stairmasters, and other exercise equipment is

15 banned. All Federal prison athletic and body build16 ing equipment shall be donated by the prison au17 thorities to appropriate public agencies, such as

18 community schools or recreation centers.

19 ‘‘(5) MEDIA.—Media shall be limited by prison

20 officials to education, vocational training, and other

21 matter that emphasizes standards of morality, re22 sponsibility, self-control, and respect for law abiding

23 Americans.

24 ‘‘(6) AMENITIES.—Amenities, regardless of the

25 source of their financing, such as catered meals, fea-
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1 ture films, lounges, pool tables, hot plates, micro2 waves, and radios shall not be provided.

3 ‘‘(c) CONSTRUCTION.—This section shall not be con4 strued to permit any violation of the Constitution of the

5 United States.’’.

6 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections

7 at the beginning of chapter 301 of title 18, United States

8 Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new

9 item:

‘‘4014. Federal prison standards.’’.

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