I
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3655
To amend title 18, United States Code, to reform Federal prisons.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 13, 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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND FINDINGS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Federal Prison Reform Act of 1996’’.
(b) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—
(1) criminals have become an increasing threat
to our personal safety;
(2) law-abiding citizens feel less secure and
more afraid because of the threat of crime, especially
violent crime;
(3) unless criminals face serious consequences
for their actions, they will continue to threaten our
communities;
(4) criminals should pay dearly for violating our
laws and threatening our communities;
(5) Federal prisons must enforce real punish-
ment by ending the use of amenities, such as exer-
cise equipment, cable television, and pool tables; and
(6) prison incarceration should focus on the de-
velopment of a meaningful work ethic through hard
labor and stress the importance of responsibility,
self-control, discipline, and respect for law abiding
Americans.
SEC. 2. PRISON REFORM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 301 of title 18, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the follow-
ing:
‘‘§ 4014. Federal prison standards
‘‘(a) EFFECT OF OUTSIDE ACCREDITATION STAND-
ARDS.—Each Federal facility for the confinement of per-
sons convicted of offenses against the United States shall
insofar as practical observe the standards for prisoner liv-
ing space and other prison conditions that are established
by recognized prison accreditation agencies, but may fail
to meet any such standards when, in the judgment of pris-
on officials, overcrowding, financial strain, prison size, ab-
sence of on-site facilities, or other circumstances make it
necessary to do so.
‘‘(b) SPECIFIC STANDARDS.—Each Federal prison
shall observe the following rules:
‘‘(1) MANUAL LABOR.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Prisoners shall spend
a minimum of 10 hours per day 6 days a week
doing manual labor, such as—
‘‘(i) trash collection along Federal
highways and on Federal lands, including
national parks;
‘‘(ii) unskilled manual labor, digging
ditches, breaking rocks, manually cutting
grass, or other menial work; or
‘‘(iii) whatever work is deemed nec-
essary and appropriate at the discretion of
the warden.
‘‘(B) DISPLACEMENT.—Labor under this
paragraph shall not result in the displacement
of privately employed workers.
‘‘(2) CHAIN GANGS.—Chain gangs may be used
to satisfy the work requirement of paragraph (1) for
minimum and low security inmates, but in no case
shall inmates currently or previously sentenced for a
crime of violence or a sex offense be eligible for a
chain gang to satisfy such requirement. For the pur-
poses of carrying out this paragraph, wardens or ad-
ministrators of the Federal system may handcuff,
shackle, detain, or immobilize inmates as necessary
to protect the safety of prison personnel and the
public.
‘‘(3) NUTRITION.—Federal prisoners shall re-
ceive no more than 3 meals per day. Each meal
must not exceed minimum nutritional guidelines re-
quired under the Constitution.
‘‘(4) EXERCISE.—There shall be an area of ap-
propriate size for exercise, running, calisthenics, and
related activities. Machine exercise equipment, bar-
bells, 
dumbbells, 
free 
weights, 
treadmills,
stairmasters, and other exercise equipment is
banned. All Federal prison athletic and body build-
ing equipment shall be donated by the prison au-
thorities to appropriate public agencies, such as
community schools or recreation centers.
‘‘(5) MEDIA.—Media shall be limited by prison
officials to education, vocational training, and other
matter that emphasizes standards of morality, re-
sponsibility, self-control, and respect for law abiding
Americans.