1997 Federal Laws on Weightlifting in Prisons

• HR 2267

In early 1997 three bills were created in the House, No Frills Prison Act (HR 169), Prison Security Enhancement Act of 1997 (HR792), and Federal No Frills Prisons Act of 1997 (HR816).

HR169 Prohibits states receiving truth in sentencing grants from weightlifting in their prisons
HR792 Prohibits strength training in federal prisons
HR816 Prohibits federal prisons from purchasing weight lifting equipment with federal funds

A major legislative crime control bill was introduced in the senate (SB3) by Senator Hatch (Utah). As it is written, this bill would remove all weightlifting (except physical therapy) from federal prisons.

In April Senator Shelby introduced the Prisoner Work and Responsibility Initiative (SB561) which requires state prisons receiving construction grants to require inmates to work and perform certain duties before they are granted certain privileges such as weightlifting.

No Frills Prison Act

• HR169 Introduction
• HR169 Text
• HR169 Status includes sponsors

Prison Security Enhancement Act of 1997

• HR792 Text
• HR792 Status includes sponsors

Federal No Frills Prisons Act of 1997

• HR816 Introduction
• HR816 Text
• HR816 Status includes sponsors

Senate Omnibus Prison Reform Bill of 1997

This is a huge bill. We present its table of contents as a manner of showing its scope. The links within the Table of Contents are not followable from this site. If you wish to follow them you must go to the Thomas site. Section 912 of the bill is titled, Prison Amenities and Prisoner Work Requirement. Section 4048 is the subsection of section 912 that deals specifically with Prison Amenities (it includes the weight lifting provisions of the bill.)

• Senate Bill #3 Table of Contents
• Section 912
• Status of Senate Bill #3 includes list of sponsors

• S561 Text
• S561 Status includes sponsors

HR 169 IH

To amend the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to prevent luxurious conditions in prisons.

January 7, 1997

Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. MCHALE, Mr. NORWOOD, Mr. GRAHAM, and Mr. ROYCE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

To amend the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to prevent luxurious conditions in prisons.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `No Frills Prison Act'.

SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF LUXURIOUS PRISON CONDITIONS.

(a) STATES- Section 20102(a) of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 is amended--

(1) by inserting `(A)' after `(1)';

(2) by redesignating existing paragraph (2) as subparagraph (B);

(3) by redesignating existing subparagraphs (A) through (D) as clauses (i) through (iv) respectively;

(4) by redesignating existing clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II);

(5) by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and'; and

(6) by adding at the end the following:

`(2) provides living conditions and opportunities to prisoners within its prisons that are not more luxurious than those conditions and opportunities the average prisoner would have experienced if such prisoner were not incarcerated, and does not provide to any such prisoner--

`(A)(i) earned good time credits;

`(ii) less than 40 hours a week of work that either offsets or reduces the expenses of keeping the prisoner or provides resources toward restitution of victims;

`(iii) unmonitored phone calls, except when between the prisoner and the prisoner's immediate family or legal counsel;

`(iv) in-cell television viewing;

`(v) the viewing of R, X, or NC-17 rated movies, through whatever medium presented;

`(vi) possession of any pornographic materials;

`(vii) any instruction (live or through broadcasts) or training equipment for boxing, wrestling, judo, karate, or other martial art, or any bodybuilding or weightlifting equipment of any sort;

`(viii) except for use during required work, the use or possession of any electric or electronic musical instrument, or practice on any musical instrument for more than one hour a day;

`(ix) use of personally owned computers or modems;

`(x) possession of in-cell coffee pots, hot plates, or heating elements;

`(xi) any living or work quarters into which the outside view is obstructed;

`(xii) food exceeding in quality or quantity that which is available to enlisted personnel in the United States Army;

`(xiii) dress or hygiene, grooming and appearance other than those allowed as uniform or standard in the prison; or

`(xiv) equipment or facilities at public expense for publishing or broadcasting content not previously approved by prison officials as consistent with prison order and prisoner discipline; and

`(B) in the case of a prisoner who is serving a sentence for a crime of violence which resulted in serious bodily injury to another--

`(i) housing other than in separate cell blocks intended for violent prisoners and designed to emphasis punishment rather than rehabilitation;

`(ii) less than 9 hours a day of physical labor, with confinement to cell for any refusing to engage in that labor, but a prisoner not physically able to do physical labor may be assigned to alternate labor;

`(iii) any temporary furlough, leave, excursion, or other release from the prison for any purpose, unless the prisoner remains at all times under physical or mechanical restraints, such as handcuffs, and under the constant escort and immediate supervision of at least one armed correctional officer;

`(iv) any viewing of television;

`(v) any inter-prison travel for competitive sports, whether as a participant or spectator;

`(vi) more than one hour a day spent in sports or exercise; or

`(vii) possession of personal property exceeding 75 pounds in total weight or that cannot be stowed in a standard size United States military issue duffel bag.'.

(b) FEDERAL-

(1) GENERALLY- The Attorney General shall by rule establish conditions in the Federal prison system that, as nearly as may be, are the same as those conditions required in State prisons under section 20102(a) of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 as amended by this section.

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 3624 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (b).

H.R.169

SPONSOR: Rep Franks, B., (introduced 01/07/97)

• SHORT TITLE(S) AS INTRODUCED:

  No Frills Prison Act

• OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:

  A bill to amend the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to prevent luxurious conditions in prisons.

***NONE***

House Action(s)

Jan 7, 97:

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Jan 28, 97:

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

***NONE***

• COMMITTEE(S) OF REFERRAL:
• SUBCOMMITTEE(S):

  Hsc Crime

***NONE***

• INDEX TERMS:

Rep Campbell - 01/07/97
Rep Emerson - 01/07/97
Rep LoBiondo - 01/07/97
Rep McHale - 01/07/97
Rep Norwood - 01/07/97
Rep Graham - 01/07/97
Rep Royce - 01/07/97
Rep Hayworth - 02/05/97
Rep Sensenbrenner - 02/05/97
Rep Hostettler - 02/05/97
Rep Ballenger - 02/05/97
Rep McIntosh - 02/05/97
Rep Quinn - 02/05/97
Rep Kim - 02/05/97
Rep Fox - 02/05/97
Rep Ensign - 02/05/97
Rep Pappas - 02/05/97
Rep Foley - 02/05/97
Rep Goodlatte - 02/05/97
Rep Gallegly - 02/05/97
Rep Cramer - 02/05/97
Rep Ney - 02/05/97
Rep Duncan - 02/05/97
Rep Pitts - 02/05/97
Rep Deutsch - 02/05/97
Rep Johnson, S. - 02/05/97
Rep Shadegg - 02/11/97
Rep Taylor, G. - 02/11/97
Rep Wexler - 02/11/97
Rep Pryce - 02/11/97

(AS INTRODUCED)

No Frills Prison Act - Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to require a State, to be eligible for truth in sentencing incentive grants, to demonstrate that it: (1) provides living conditions and opportunities within its prisons that are not more luxurious than those that the average prisoner would have experienced if not incarcerated; (2) does not provide to any such prisoner specified benefits or privileges, including earned good time credits, less than 40 hours a week of work that either offsets or reduces the expenses of keeping the prisoner or provides resources toward restitution of victims, unmonitored phone calls (with exceptions), in-cell television viewing, possession of pornographic materials, instruction or training equipment for any martial art or bodybuilding or weightlifting equipment, or dress or hygiene other than as is uniform or standard in the prison; and (3) in the case of a prisoner serving a sentence for a crime of violence which resulted in serious bodily injury to another, does not provide housing other than in separate cell blocks intended for violent prisoners, less than nine hours a day of physical labor (with exceptions), any release from the prison for any purpose unless under physical.

HR 792 IH

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent Federal prisoners from engaging in activities to increase their strength or fighting ability while in prison .

February 13, 1997

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio (for herself, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. HERGER, Ms. MOLINARI, Mr. BARR of Georgia, Mr. NEY, Mr. KINGSTON, and Mr. FOLEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent Federal prisoners from engaging in activities to increase their strength or fighting ability while in prison.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Prison Security Enhancement Act of 1997'.

SEC. 2. PRISON SECURITY.

(a) IN GENERAL- Chapter 303 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`Sec. 4048. Strength-training of prisoners prohibited

`The Bureau of Prisons shall take care that--

`(1) prisoners under its jurisdiction do not engage in any activities designed to increase their physical strength or their fighting ability; and

`(2) that all equipment designed for this purpose be removed from Federal correctional facilities.'.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 303 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`4048. Strength-training of prisoners prohibited.'.

Bill Summary & Status for the 105th Congress

H.R.792

SPONSOR: Rep Pryce, (introduced 02/13/97)

• SHORT TITLE(S) AS INTRODUCED:

  Prison Security Enhancement Act of 1997

• OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:

  A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent Federal prisoners from engaging in activities to increase their strength or fighting ability while in prison.

***NONE***

House Action(s)

Feb 13, 97:

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

***NONE***

• COMMITTEE(S) OF REFERRAL:

  House Judiciary

***NONE***

***NONE***

Rep Chabot - 02/13/97
Rep Herger - 02/13/97
Rep Molinari - 02/13/97
Rep Barr - 02/13/97
Rep Ney - 02/13/97
Rep Kingston - 02/13/97
Rep Foley - 02/13/97

***NONE***

By Mrs. CHENOWETH (for herself, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Bob Schaffer, Mr. Doolittle, Mr. Peterson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Hill, and Mr. Radanovich):

HR 816 IH

To prohibit the use of Federal funds for certain amenities and personal comforts in the Federal prison system.

February 25, 1997

Mr. CASTLE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

To prohibit the use of Federal funds for certain amenities and personal comforts in the Federal prison system.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Federal No Frills Prisons Act of 1997'.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR CERTAIN AMENITIES AND PERSONAL COMFORTS IN THE FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM.

No Federal funds may be used to provide any of the following amenities or personal comforts in the Federal prison system:

(1) In-cell television viewing, except for prisoners who are segregated from the general prison population for their own safety.

(2) Viewing of any motion picture rated R, X, or NC-17, without regard to the medium through which the motion picture is presented.

(3) Instruction (whether live or through broadcasts), or training equipment, for boxing, wrestling, judo, karate, or any other martial art, or any bodybuilding or weightlifting equipment of any sort.

(4) Possession of any in-cell coffee pot, hot plate, or heating element.

(5) Use or possession of any electric or electronic musical instrument.

H.R.816

SPONSOR: Rep Castle, (introduced 02/25/97)

• SHORT TITLE(S) AS INTRODUCED:

  Federal No Frills Prisons Act of 1997

• OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:

  A bill to prohibit the use of Federal funds for certain amenities and personal comforts in the Federal prison system.

***NONE***

House Action(s)

Feb 25, 97:

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Mar 5, 97:

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

***NONE***

• COMMITTEE(S) OF REFERRAL:

  House Judiciary

***NONE***

***NONE***

***NONE***

***NONE***

S 561 IS

To require States receiving prison construction grants to implement requirements for inmates to perform work and engage in educational activities, to eliminate certain sentencing inequities for drug offenders, and for other purposes.

April 10, 1997

Mr. SHELBY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

To require States receiving prison construction grants to implement requirements for inmates to perform work and engage in educational activities, to eliminate certain sentencing inequities for drug offenders, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Prisoner Work and Responsibility Initiative of 1997'.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO STATES FOR CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

Section 20103(a) of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13703(a)) is amended--

(1) by striking `assurances that the State' and inserting the following `assurances that--

`(1) the State';

(2) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

`(2) the State has implemented a requirement that each inmate must perform not less than 48 hours of work per week, which shall not be waived except as required by--

`(A) security conditions;

`(B) disciplinary action; or

`(C) medical certification of a disability that would make it impracticable for prison officials to arrange useful work for the inmate to perform;

`(3) the State has implemented a requirement that each inmate engage in not less than 16 hours of organized educational activities per week; and

`(4) the State prohibits prison officials from providing privileges to any inmate who fails to comply with the requirements described in paragraphs (2) and (3), including--

`(A) access to television;

`(B) access to bodybuilding or weightlifting equipment;

`(C) access to recreational sports;

`(D) unmonitored telephone calls, except when between the inmate and the immediate family or attorney of the inmate;

`(E) instruction or training equipment for boxing, wrestling, judo, karate, or other martial arts;

`(F) except for use during required work, the use or possession of any electrical or electronic musical instrument;

`(G) an in-cell coffee pot, hot plate, or heating element;

`(H) food exceeding in quality or quantity to that which is available to enlisted personnel in the United States Army;

`(I) dress, hygiene, grooming, and appearance other than those allowed as standard in the prison; or

`(J) equipment or facilities for publishing or broadcasting material not approved by prison officials as being consistent with prison order and discipline.'.

SEC. 3. ELIMINATION OF SENTENCING INEQUITIES FOR DRUG OFFENDERS.

(a) IN GENERAL- Section 3621(e)(2) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--

(1) by striking the paragraph heading and inserting the following:

`(2) TREATMENT REQUIREMENT- '; and

(2) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:

`(B) ADMINISTRATION OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS- The Attorney General shall ensure, through the use of all appropriate and available incentives and sanctions, that each eligible prisoner participates in a program of substance abuse treatment.'.

(b) ELIGIBILITY- Section 3621(e)(5)(B) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following:

`(ii) within 24 months of the date of release, or is otherwise designated by the Bureau of Prisons for participation in a residential substance abuse treatment program; and'.