IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 75

Expressing the sense of the Congress that States should work more aggressively to attack the problem of violent crimes committed by repeat offenders and criminals serving abbreviated sentences.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 7, 1997

Mr. BARCIA (for himself, Mrs. KELLY, Mr. BAKER, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. BROWN of California, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. BURR of

North Carolina, Mr. CAMP, Mr. COBLE, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. CRAMER,

Mr. DAVIS of Florida, Mr. DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. DOOLEY

of California, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. EVANS, Mr. FAZIO of

California, Mrs. FOWLER, Mr. FROST, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. GOODE, Mr.

HAYWORTH, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. HYDE, Mr. ISTOOK, Mrs. JOHNSON of

Connecticut, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. KING, Mr.

KLECZKA, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. KNOLLENBERG, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. LUTHER, Mr. MCHALE, Mr. MICA, Ms. MOLINARI, Mr. PASTOR,

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, Mr. QUINN, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mr.

ROHRABACHER, Mr. ROTHMAN, Mr. ADAM SMITH of Washington, Mr.

SMITH of Michigan, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. TANNER, Mrs.

TAUSCHER, Mrs. THURMAN, Mr. UPTON, Mr. WALSH, Mr. WELDON of

Florida, and Mr. WELLER) submitted the following concurrent resolution;

which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that States should

work more aggressively to attack the problem of violent

crimes committed by repeat offenders and criminals serving abbreviated sentences.
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•HCON 75 IH

Whereas a disturbing number of law-abiding citizens believe

they are prisoners in their own homes because of increasing violence in our society;

Whereas law-abiding citizens have the right to be fearful

knowing that violent offenders only serve on average 48

percent of the sentence they received;

Whereas more than 2⁄3 of persons under correctional supervision are currently on parole and not incarcerated;

Whereas 1 in 3 offenders admitted to State prisons were on

probation or parole violators;

Whereas the Federal Government eliminated parole in 1984

and prisoners convicted of Federal crimes now serve at

least 85 percent of their sentences;

Whereas under current Federal law, States are eligible for

prison construction funds if they keep felons in prison for

at least 85 percent of their sentence;

Whereas in 1996, at least 25 States, among them Arizona,

California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, have laws that

meet the 85 percent of sentence served requirements set

forth in the 1994 crime bill; and

Whereas the National Association of Police Organizations,

the International Chiefs of Police, the Fraternal Order of

Police, the National Association of Chiefs of Police, the

National District Attorney’s Association, and the Safe

Streets Coalition support the concept of an 85 percent

minimum length of service for violent criminals: Now,

therefore, be it
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•HCON 75 IH

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

3 (1) Congress commends Arizona, California,

4 Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,

5 Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis6 sissippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, North

7 Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Caro8 lina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Washington for

9 their existing efforts with respect to prison time

10 served by criminal offenders;

11 (2) Congress encourages all remaining States to

12 adopt as quickly as possible legislation to increase

13 the time served by violent felons; and

14 (3) with respect to Federal crimes, Congress re15 emphasizes its support for the requirement that indi16 viduals who commit violent crimes should serve at

17 least 85 percent of their sentence.

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