[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 49 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 49

   To establish constitutional procedures for the imposition of the 
               sentence of death, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             January 21 (legislative day, January 5), 1993

 Mr. Thurmond (for himself and Mr. DeConcini) introduced the following 
    bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish constitutional procedures for the imposition of the 
               sentence of death, 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 ``Federal Death Penalty Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. CONSTITUTIONAL PROCEDURES FOR THE IMPOSITION OF THE SENTENCE OF 
              DEATH.

    (a) In General.--Part II of title 18 of the United States Code is 
amended by adding the following new chapter after chapter 227:

                     ``CHAPTER 228--DEATH SENTENCE

``Sec.
``3591. Sentence of death.
``3592. Factors to be considered in determining whether a sentence of 
                            death is justified.
``3593. Special hearing to determine whether a sentence of death is 
                            justified.
``3594. Imposition of a sentence of death.
``3595. Reveiw of a sentence of death.
``3596. Implementation of a sentence of death.
``3597. Use of State facilities.
``Sec. 3591. Sentence of death
    ``A defendant who has been found guilty of--
            ``(a) an offense described in section 794 or section 2381 
        of this title;
            ``(b) an offense described in section 1751(c) of this 
        title, if the offense, as determined beyond a reasonable doubt 
        at the hearing under section 3593, constitutes an attempt to 
        kill the President of the United States and results in bodily 
        injury to the President or comes dangerously close to causing 
        the death of the President; or
            ``(c) any other offense for which a sentence of death is 
        provided, if the defendant, as determined beyond a reasonable 
        doubt at the hearing under section 3593--
                    ``(1) intentionally killed the victim;
                    ``(2) intentionally inflicted serious bodily injury 
                that resulted in the death of the victim;
                    ``(3) intentionally participated in an act, 
                contemplating that the life of a person would be taken 
                or intending that lethal force would be used in 
                connection with a person, other than one of the 
                participants in the offense, and the victim died as a 
                direct result of the act; or
                    ``(4) intentionally and specifically engaged in an 
                act, knowing that the act created a grave risk of death 
                to a person, other than one of the participants in the 
                offense, such that participation in the act constituted 
                a reckless disregard for human life and the victim died 
                as a direct result of the act,
shall be sentenced to death if, after consideration of the factors set 
forth in section 3592 in the course of a hearing held pursuant to 
section 3593, it is determined that imposition of a sentence of death 
is justified; provided that no person may be sentenced to death who was 
less than 16 years of age at the time of the offense.
``Sec. 3592. Factors to be considered in determining whether a sentence 
              of death is justified
    ``(a) Mitigating Factors.--In determining whether a sentence of 
death is justified for any offense, the jury, or if there is no jury, 
the court, shall consider each of the following mitigating factors and 
determine which, if any, exist:
            ``(1) the defendant's mental capacity was significantly 
        impaired, although the impairment was not such as to constitute 
        a defense to prosecution;
            ``(2) the defendant was under unusual and substantial 
        duress, although not such duress as would constitute a defense 
        to prosecution; and
            ``(3) the defendant was an accomplice whose participation 
        in the offense was relatively minor.
The jury, or if there is no jury, the court, shall consider whether any 
other mitigating factor exists.
    ``(b) Aggravating Factors for Espionage and Treason.--In 
determining whether a sentence of death is justified for an offense 
described in section 3591(a), the jury, or if there is no jury, the 
court, shall consider each of the following aggravating factors and 
determine which, if any, exist:
            ``(1) the defendant has previously been convicted of 
        another offense involving espionage or treason for which either 
        a sentence of life imprisonment or death was authorized by 
        statute;
            ``(2) in the commission of the offense the defendant 
        knowingly created a grave risk of substantial danger to the 
        national security; and
            ``(3) in the commission of the offense the defendant 
        knowingly created a grave risk of death to another person.
The jury, or if there is no jury, the court, may consider whether any 
other aggravating factor exists.
    ``(c) Aggravating Factors for Homicide and for Attempted Murder of 
the President.--In determining whether a sentence of death is justified 
for an offense described in section 3591(b) or (c), the jury, or if 
there is no jury, the court, shall consider each of the following 
aggravating factors and determine which, if any, exist:
            ``(1) the death, or injury resulting in death, occurred 
        during the commission or attempted commission of, or during the 
        immediate flight from the commission of, an offense under 
        section 751 (prisoners in custody of institution or officer), 
        section 794 (gathering or delivering defense information to aid 
        foreign government), section 844(d) (transportation of 
        explosives in interstate commerce for certain purposes), 
        section 844(f) (destruction of Government property in 
        interstate commerce by explosives), section 1118 (prisoners 
        serving life term), section 1201 (kidnaping), or section 2381 
        (treason) of this title, or section 902 (i) or (n) of the 
        Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended (49 U.S.C. 1472 (i) or 
        (n)) (aircraft piracy);
            ``(2) the defendant has previously been convicted of 
        another Federal or State offense resulting in the death of a 
        person, for which a sentence of life imprisonment or a sentence 
        of death was authorized by statute;
            ``(3) the defendant has previously been convicted of two or 
        more Federal or State offenses, punishable by a term of 
        imprisonment of more than one year, committed on different 
        occasions, involving the infliction of, or attempted infliction 
        of, serious bodily injury or death upon another person;
            (4) the defendant, in the commission of the offense, or in 
        escaping apprehension for the violation of the offense, 
        knowingly created a grave risk of death to one or more persons 
        in addition to the victim of the offense;
            ``(5) the defendant committed the offense in an especially 
        heinous, cruel, or depraved manner;
            ``(6) the defendant procured the commission of the offense 
        by payment, or promise of payment, of anything of pecuniary 
        value;
            ``(7) the defendant committed the offense as consideration 
        for the receipt, or in the expectation of the receipt, of 
        anything of pecuniary value;
            ``(8) the defendant committed the offense after planning 
        and premeditation to cause the death of a person or commit an 
        act of terrorism;
            ``(9) the defendant has previously been convicted of two or 
        more State or Federal offenses punishable by a term of 
        imprisonment of more than one year, committed on different 
        occasions, involving the distribution of a controlled 
        substance;
            ``(10) the victim was particularly vulnerable due to old 
        age, youth, or infirmity;
            ``(11) the defendant had previously been convicted of 
        violating title II or title III of the Controlled Substances 
        Act for which a sentence of 5 or more years may be imposed or 
        had previously been convicted of engaging in a continuing 
        criminal enterprise;
            ``(12) the defendant committed the offense against--
                    ``(A) the President of the United States, the 
                President-elect, the Vice President, the Vice-
                President-elect, the Vice-President-designate, or, if 
                there is no Vice President, the officer next in order 
                of succession to the office of the President of the 
                United States, or any person who is acting as President 
                under the Constitution and laws of the United States;
                    ``(B) a chief of state, head of government, or the 
                political equivalent, of a foreign nation;
                    ``(C) a foreign official listed in section 
                1116(b)(3)(A) of this title, if he is in the United 
                States on official business; or
                    ``(D) a Federal public servant who is a judge, a 
                law enforcement officer, or an employee of a United 
                States penal or correctional institution--
                            ``(i) while he is engaged in the 
                        performance of his official duties;
                            ``(ii) because of the performance of his 
                        official duties; or
                            ``(iii) because of his status as a public 
                        servant.
                For purposes of this subparagraph, a `law enforcement 
                officer' is a public servant authorized by law or by a 
                Government agency or Congress to conduct or engage in 
                the prevention, investigation, or prosecution of an 
                offense.
The jury, or if there is no jury, the court, may consider whether any 
other aggravating factor exists.
``Sec. 3593. Special hearing to determine whether a sentence of death 
              is justified
    ``(a) Notice by the Government.--If, in a case involving an offense 
described in section 3591, the attorney for the government believes 
that the circumstances of the offense are such that a sentence of death 
is justified under this chapter, he shall, a reasonable time before the 
trial, or before acceptance by the court of a plea of guilty, or at 
such time thereafter as the court may permit upon a showing of good 
cause, sign and file with the court, and serve on the defendant, a 
notice--
            ``(1) stating that the goverment believes that the 
        circumstances of the offense are such that, if the defendant is 
        convicted, a sentence of death is justified under this chapter 
        and that the government will seek the sentence of death; and
            ``(2) setting forth the aggravating factor or factors that 
        the government, if the defendant is convicted, proposes to 
        prove as justifying a sentence of death.
The court may permit the attorney for the government to amend the 
notice upon a showing of good cause.
    ``(b) Hearing Before a Court or Jury.--If the attorney for the 
government has filed a notice as required under subsection (a) and the 
defendant is found guilty of or pleads guilty to an offense described 
in section 3591, the judge who presided at the trial or before whom the 
guilty plea was entered, or another judge if that judge is unavailable, 
shall conduct a separate sentencing hearing to determine the punishment 
to be imposed. The hearing shall be conducted--
            ``(1) before the jury that determined the defendant's 
        guilt;
            ``(2) before a jury impaneled for the purpose of the 
        hearing if--
                    ``(A) the defendant was convicted upon a plea of 
                guilty;
                    ``(B) the defendant was convicted after a trial 
                before the court sitting without a jury;
                    ``(C) the jury that determined the defendant's 
                guilt was discharged for good cause; or
                    ``(D) after initial imposition of a sentence under 
                this section, reconsideration of the sentence under 
                this section is necessary; or
            ``(3) before the court alone, upon the motion of the 
        defendant and with the approval of the attorney for the 
        government.
A jury impaneled pursuant to paragraph (2) shall consist of twelve 
members, unless, at any time before the conclusion of the hearing, the 
parties stipulate, with the approval of the court, that it shall 
consist of a lesser number.
    ``(c) Proof of Mitigating and Aggravating Factors.--Notwithstanding 
rule 32(c) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, when a defendant 
is found guilty or pleads guilty to an offense under section 3591, no 
presentence report shall be prepared. At the sentencing hearing, 
information may be presented as to any matter relevant to the sentence, 
including any mitigating or aggravating factor permitted or required to 
be considered under section 3592. Information presented may include the 
trial transcript and exhibits if the hearing is held before a jury or 
judge not present during the trial. Any other information relevant to a 
mitigating or aggravating factor may be presented by either the 
attorney for the government or the defendant, regardless of its 
admissibility under the rules governing admission of evidence at 
criminal trials, except that information may be excluded if its 
probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of creating 
unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, or misleading the jury. The 
government and the defendant shall be permitted to rebut any 
information received at the hearing, and shall be given fair 
opportunity to present argument as to the adequacy of the information 
to establish the existence of any aggravating or mitigating factor, and 
as to the appropriateness in the case of imposing a sentence of death. 
The government shall open the argument. The defendant shall be 
permitted to reply. The government shall then be permitted to reply in 
rebuttal. The burden of establishing the existence of any aggravating 
factor is on the government, and is not satisfied unless the existence 
of such a factor is established beyond a reasonable doubt. The burden 
of establishing the existence of any mitigating factor is on the 
defendant, and is not satisfied unless the existence of such a factor 
is established by a preponderance of the information.
    ``(d) Return of Special Findings.--The jury, or if there is no 
jury, the court, shall consider all the information received during the 
hearing. It shall return a special finding as to each mitigating and 
aggravating factor, concerning which information is presented at the 
hearing, required to be considered under section 3592. The jury must 
find the existence of an aggravating factor by a unanimous vote, 
although it is unnecessary that there be a unanimous vote on any 
specific or aggravating factor if a majority of the jury finds the 
existence of such a specific factor. A finding with respect to a 
mitigating factor may be made by one or more members of the jury and 
any member of the jury who finds the existence of a mitigating factor 
may consider such a factor established for purposes of this section, 
regardless of the number of jurors who consider that the factor has 
been established.
    ``(e) Return of a Finding Concerning a Sentence of Death.--If, in 
the case of--
            ``(1) an offense described in section 3591(a), an 
        aggravating factor required to be considered under section 
        3592(b) is found to exist; or
            ``(2) an offense described in section 3591 (b) or (c), an 
        aggravating factor required to be considered under section 
        3592(c) is found to exist;
the jury, or if there is no jury, the court, shall then consider 
whether all the aggravating factors found to exist sufficiently 
outweigh all the mitigating factors found to exist to justify a 
sentence of death, or, in the absence of a mitigating factor, whether 
the aggravating factors alone are sufficient to justify a sentence of 
death. Based upon this consideration, the jury by unanimous vote, or if 
there is no jury, the court, shall return a finding as to whether a 
sentence of death is justified.
    ``(f) Special Precaution To Assure Against Discrimination.--In a 
hearing held before a jury, the court, prior to the return of a finding 
under subsection (e), shall instruct the jury that, in considering 
whether a sentence of death is justified, it shall not consider the 
race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant. The jury, 
upon return of a finding under subsection (e), shall also return to the 
court a certificate, signed by each juror, that consideration of the 
race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant was not 
involved in reaching the juror's individual decision.
``Sec. 3594. Imposition of a sentence of death
    ``Upon a finding under section 3593(e) that a sentence of death is 
justified, the court shall sentence the defendant to death. Upon a 
finding under section 3593(e) that a sentence of death is not 
justified, or under section 3593(d) that no aggravating factor required 
to be found exists, the court shall impose any sentence other than 
death that is authorized by law. Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, if the maximum term of imprisonment for the offense is life 
imprisonment, the court may impose a sentence of life imprisonment 
without parole.
``Sec. 3595. Review of a sentence of death
    ``(a) Appeal.--In a case in which a sentence of death is imposed, 
the sentence shall be subject to review by the court of appeals upon 
appeal by the defendant. Notice of appeal must be filed within the time 
specified for the filing of a notice of appeal. An appeal under this 
section may be consolidated with an appeal of the judgment of 
conviction and shall have priority over all other cases.
    ``(b) Review.--The court of appeals shall review the entire record 
in the case, including--
            ``(1) the evidence submitted during the trial;
            ``(2) the information submitted during the sentencing 
        hearing;
            ``(3) the procedures employed in the sentencing hearing; 
        and
            ``(4) the special findings returned under section 3593(d).
    ``(c) Decision and Disposition.--
            ``(1) If the court of appeals determines that--
                    ``(A) the sentence of death was not imposed under 
                the influence of passion, prejudice, or any other 
                arbitrary factor; and
                    ``(B) the information supports the special finding 
                of the existence of an aggravating factor required to 
                be considered under section 3592;
        it shall affirm the sentence.
            ``(2) In any other case, the court of appeals shall remand 
        the case for reconsideration under section 3593.
            ``(3) The court of appeals shall state in writing the 
        reasons for its disposition of an appeal of a sentence of death 
        under this section.
``Sec. 3596. Implementation of a sentence of death
    ``A person who has been sentenced to death pursuant to the 
provisions of this chapter shall be committed to the custody of the 
Attorney General until exhaustion of the procedures for appeal of the 
judgment of conviction and for review of the sentence. When the 
sentence is to be implemented, the Attorney General shall release the 
person sentenced to death to the custody of a United States marshal, 
who shall supervise implementation of the sentence in the manner 
prescribed by the law of the State in which the sentence is imposed. If 
the law of such State does not provide for implementation of a sentence 
of death, the court shall designate another State, the law of which 
does so provide, and the sentence shall be implemented in the latter 
State in the manner prescribed by such law. A sentence of death shall 
not be carried out upon a woman while she is pregnant.
``Sec. 3597. Use of State facilities
    ``(a) In General.--A United States marshal charged with supervising 
the implementation of a sentence of death may use appropriate State or 
local facilities for the purpose, may use the services of an 
appropriate State or local official or of a person such an official 
employs for the purpose, and shall pay the costs thereof in an amount 
approved by the Attorney General.
    ``(b) Excuse of an Employee on Moral or Religious Grounds.--No 
employee of any State department of corrections or the Federal Bureau 
of Prisons and no employee providing services to that department or 
bureau under contract shall be required as a condition of that 
employment, or contractual obligation to be in attendance at or to 
participate in any execution carried out under this section if such 
participation is contrary to the moral or religious convictions of the 
employee. For purposes of this subsection, the term `participation in 
executions' includes personal preparation of the condemned individual 
and the apparatus used for execution and supervision of the activities 
of other personnel in carrying out such activities.''.
    (b) Repeal.--Sections 3566 and 3567 of title 18, United States 
Code, are hereby repealed.
    (c) Amendments to Chapter Analysis.--(1) The chapter analysis of 
part II of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding the 
following new item after the item relating to chapter 227:

``228. Death sentence.......................................    3591''.
    (2) The section analysis of chapter 227 of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by amending the items relating to sections 3566 and 
3567 to read as follows:

``3566. Repealed.
``3567. Repealed.''.

SEC. 3. CONFORMING CHANGES IN TITLE 18.

    (a) Aircrafts and Motor Vehicles.--Section 34 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by striking the comma after ``imprisonment for 
life'' and inserting a period and striking the remainder of the 
section.
    (b) Espionage.--Section 794(a) of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by striking the period at the end of the section and inserting 
``, except that the sentence of death shall not be imposed unless the 
jury or, if there is no jury, the court, further finds that the offense 
directly concerned nuclear weaponry, military spacecraft or satellites, 
early warning systems, or other means of defense or retaliation against 
large-scale attack; war plans; communications intelligence of 
cryptographic information; or any other major weapons system or major 
element of defense strategy.''.
    (c) Explosive Materials.--(1) Section 844(d) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``as provided in section 34 of this 
title''.
    (2) Section 844(f) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``as provided in section 34 of this title''.
    (3) Section 844(i) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the words ``as provided in section 34 of this title''.
    (d) Murder.--(1) The second undesignated paragraph of section 
1111(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``Whoever is guilty of murder in the first degree shall be punished 
by death or by imprisonment for life;''.
    (2) Section 1116(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``any such person who is found guilty of murder in the first 
degree shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life, and''.
    (e) Kidnapping.--Section 1201(a) of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after ``or for life'' the following: ``and, if 
the death of any person results, shall be punished by death or life 
imprisonment''.
    (f) Nonmailable Injurious Articles.--The last paragraph of section 
1716 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the comma 
after ``imprisonment for life'' and inserting a period and striking the 
remainder of the paragraph.
    (g) Presidential Assassinations.--Subsection (c) of section 1751 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Whoever attempts to kill or kidnap any individual designated 
in subsection (a) of this section shall be punished (1) by imprisonment 
for any term of years or for life, or (2) by death or imprisonment for 
any term of years or for life, if the conduct constitutes an attempt to 
kill the President of the United States and results in bodily injury to 
the President or otherwise comes dangerously close to causing the death 
of the President.''.
    (h) Wrecking Trains.--The second to the last undesignated paragraph 
of section 1992 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking 
the comma after ``imprisonment for life'' and inserting a period and 
striking the remainder of the section.
    (i) Bank Robbery.--Section 2113(e) of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ``or punished by death if the verdict of the 
jury shall so direct'' and inserting ``or if death results shall be 
punished by death or life imprisonment''.
    (j) Hostage Taking. Section 1203(a) of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after ``or for life'' the following: 
``and, if the death of any person results, shall be punished by death 
or life imprisonment''.
    (k) Racketeering.--(1) Section 1952A(a) of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ``and if death results, shall be subject 
to imprisonment for any term of years or for life, or shall be fined 
not more than $50,000, or both'' and inserting ``and if death results, 
shall be punished by death or life imprisonment, or shall be fined not 
more than $250,000, or both''.
    (2) Section 1952B(a)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
            ``(1) for murder, by death or life imprisonment, or a fine 
        of not more than $250,000, or both; and for kidnapping, by 
        imprisonment for any term of years or for life, or a fine of 
        not more than $250,000, or both;''.
    (l) Genocide.--Section 1091(b)(1) of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ``a fine of not more than $1,000,000 or 
imprisonment for life,'' and inserting ``, where death results, a fine 
of not more than $1,000,000, or imprisonment for life or a sentence of 
death.''.

SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO FEDERAL AVIATION ACT OF 1954.

    Section 903 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended (49 
U.S.C. 1473), is amended by striking subsection (c).

SEC. 5. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT.

    Section 408 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 848) is 
amended by striking subsections (g) through (r).

SEC. 6. APPLICABILITY TO UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE.

    The provisions of chapter 228 of title 18, United States Code, as 
added by this Act, shall not apply to prosecutions under the Uniform 
Code of Military Justice (10 U.S.C. 801).

SEC. 7. MURDER BY A FEDERAL PRISONER.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following:
``Sec. 1118. Murder by a Federal prisoner
    ``(a) Whoever, while confined in a Federal correctional institution 
under a sentence for a term of life imprisonment, murders another shall 
be punished by death or by life imprisonment without the possibility of 
parole.
    ``(b) For the purposes of this section--
            ``(1) the term `Federal correctional institution' means any 
        Federal prison, Federal correctional facility, Federal 
        community program center, or Federal halfway house;
            ``(2) the term `term of life imprisonment' means a sentence 
        for the term of natural life, a sentence commuted to natural 
        life, an indeterminate term of a minimum of at least fifteen 
        years and a maximum of life, or an unexecuted sentence of 
        death; and
            ``(3) the term `murders' means committing first degree or 
        second degree murder as defined by section 1111 of this 
        title.''.
    (b) Amendment to Chapter Analysis.--The chapter analysis for 
chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end thereof the following:

``1118. Murder by a Federal prisoner.''.

                                 <all>

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