[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 29, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E785-E786]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE CRIMINAL SERVITUDE ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM BUNNING

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 1997

  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, I commend to my colleagues' attention a 
``bill'' that was drafted by a high school advanced placement 
government class at Lloyd High School in Erlanger, KY in my 
congressional district. I ask that it be made part of the Record.
  I know that the students worked hard on the ``Criminal Servitude Act 
of 1997'', and I think that their final ``bill'' mirrors the 
predominant attitude toward crime in our country today. In fact, 
several of their recommendations, including the elimination of 
amenities for prisoners and increasing the scrutiny of the whereabouts 
of released sex offenders, are issues that this body has debated on 
more than one occasion in recent years.
  Promoting awareness of current events and civic involvement is one of 
the most important aspects of Members' responsibilities as public 
servants, and it always pleases me to see young Kentuckians wrestling 
with the issues of the day and trying to understand exactly how their 
Government works.
  Again, I commend this ``bill'' to my colleagues. It is an example of 
what conscientious young people can do when they set their minds to a 
task.
       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 ``Criminal Servitude Act of 
     1997''.

     SEC. 2. PUBLIC HUMILIATION FOR CRIMES.

                                 Part A

       All local, national, and international media organizations/
     individuals may print, broadcast, etc., names and/or pictures 
     of persons convicted of felonies or misdemeanors as a means 
     of socially deterring crime through the use of ``stigma''.

                                 Part B

       All nonviolent \1\ criminals (excluding those with physical 
     disabilities) will spend an eight hour work day six days per 
     week performing laborious community service for the duration 
     of the term of the individual's incarceration. The exact 
     nature of the tasks to be performed will be given at the time 
     of the individual's sentencing. Prisoners will be exempt from 
     work on designated holidays.

                                 Part C

       All violent criminals will spend eight hour work days six 
     days per week performing extremely laborious community 
     service for the duration of the term of the individual's 
     incarceration. The exact nature of the tasks to be performed 
     will be given at the time of the individual's sentencing. 
     Prisoners will be exempt from work on designated holidays.

                                 Part D

       Prisoners will wear the orange prison garb with first and 
     last names printed on the front and back of their uniform and 
     will be forced to wear this during all community service 
     hours.

                                 Part E

       Second time juvenile offenders will perform their second 
     terms of community service in standard prision garb in 
     accordance with Part D with the exception that their names 
     will not be printed on their uniform.

                                 Part F

       Local and national TV networks will be given the 
     opportunity and encouraged to air the results of city and 
     national trials displaying mugshots and descriptions of 
     offenders and crimes.
       Subsection 1, to Part F. The presence of released or 
     paroled sex offenders in a community will be a matter of 
     public record and therefore subject to media scrutiny.

     SEC. 3. CAPITOL PUNISHMENT.

       This section hereby makes legal, but not mandatory, capitol 
     punishment in all states.

[[Page E786]]

     SEC. 4. CONFINEMENT COMMODITIES.

       The government of the United States will no longer provide 
     funds for all those unnecessary commodities in jails, 
     prisons, penitentiaries, etc. These commodities include air 
     conditioning,\2\ cable TV,\3\ excessive recreation \4\ and 
     all other benefits that they would otherwise not be 
     guaranteed, such as books, beds, toilettes, etc.

     SEC. 5. APPEALS.

       No more than three appeals may be made by any convicted 
     person.

     SEC. 6. TERMS.

       Any person sentenced to serve time in a jail, prison, 
     penitentiary, asylum, etc., must serve their entire sentence. 
     There is no longer parole.

     SEC. 7. DRUG OFFENDER.

       Repeated users of any all drugs including household items 
     and inhalant will undergo mandatory drug rehabilitation. The 
     facilities in which the rehab will take place will be old 
     jails and prisons. Unnecessary commodities will be forbidden 
     as Section 4 states.
       Appropriation for Section 7. If additional funds are 
     needed, they will be deducted from confiscated drug moneys.

     SEC. 8. THE INSANITY PLEA.

       All those persons who plead guilty by means of insanity 
     will be examined by two court appointed doctors of 
     psychiatry.\5\ If found guilty by insanity they will be 
     sentenced according to their crime as if they had not been 
     insane. However, instead of serving their sentence in jail, 
     it will be served in an asylum. They will serve their entire 
     sentence as Section 6 requires. If a person is ``cured'' of 
     their insanity before their sentence is up they may exhaust 
     their three appeals. If all three fail, they will have to 
     work for their asylum until the remainder of their sentence 
     has been served. The ``cured'' will be paid minimum wages for 
     their services.

     \1\ ``Violent'' includes child molestation, child neglect, 
     child abuse, and the torture and starvation of all domestic 
     animals.
     \2\ Fans will be provided.
     \3\ In some instances, i.e., maximum security prisons, TV 
     altogether will not be funded.
     \4\ Excessive receration includes more than two of any basic 
     piece of ``free weight'' machinery. All weightlifting 
     machinery will not have ``free weights'' instead, all weight 
     machines will be automated.
     \5\ Mandatory hours and/or cases will be necessary for all 
     psychiatrists to earn and to maintain their practicing 
     license.

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