IV
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 75
Expressing the sense of the Congress that States should work more aggres-
sively to attack the problem of violent crimes committed by repeat offend-
ers and criminals serving abbreviated sentences.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 7, 1997
Mr. BARCIA (for himself, Mrs. KELLY, Mr. BAKER, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BOS-
WELL, 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. LIPIN-
SKI, 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 serv-
ing abbreviated sentences.
•HCON 75 IH
Whereas a disturbing number of law-abiding citizens believe
they are prisoners in their own homes because of increas-
ing 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 super-
vision 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, Illi-
nois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis-
sissippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, North Da-
kota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Ten-
nessee, 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
•HCON 75 IH
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
(1) Congress commends Arizona, California,
Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis-
sissippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, North
Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Caro-
lina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Washington for
their existing efforts with respect to prison time
served by criminal offenders;
(2) Congress encourages all remaining States to
adopt as quickly as possible legislation to increase
the time served by violent felons; and
(3) with respect to Federal crimes, Congress re-
emphasizes its support for the requirement that indi-
viduals who commit violent crimes should serve at
least 85 percent of their sentence.
Æ