S 1284 · 96th Congress · Crime and Law Enforcement

A bill to revise title 18, United States Code.

Introduced 1979-06-05· Sponsored by Sen. Tower, John G. [R-TX]· Senate

Bill Progress

Introduced
2
Committee
3
Senate Vote
4
House
5
Enacted
Latest: Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary.(1979-06-05)

Plain Language Summary

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Allows a person to be sentenced to death for a violation of Federal law only if a separate sentencing hearing is conducted before: (1) the jury which determined such person's guilt; (2) a jury impaneled for such purpose; or (3) the court, upon motion of the defendant and the approval of the court and the Government. Requires the court to disclose all material in any presentence report, except as required to be withheld to protect human life or national security, but prohibits any such information withheld from being considered in determining a sentence of death. Permits any mitigating information to be presented regardless of its admissibility under the rules of evidence, but requires aggravating factors to be governed by such rules. Requires the Government to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that aggravating factors exist. Requires the defendant to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that mitigating factors exist. Requires the jury or court to return special findings setting forth any such factors found to exist. Requires the court to sentence the defendant to death upon a unanimous finding of the jury that such sentence should be imposed. Enumerates the mitigating and…

Summarized by Claude AI · Non-partisan · For informational purposes only

Cosponsors (6)

6 Republicans