[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         CRIME DOES NOT PAY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM BLILEY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 6, 1998

  Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to introduce the Crime 
Does Not Pay Act on behalf of Margie Nolan Cowles of Richmond, 
Virginia. Margie Nolan Cowles wrote a letter to the editor of the 
Richmond Times-Dispatch decrying the fact that criminals were receiving 
payments from injuries received during the commission of a crime. I 
agreed and have introduced the Crime Does Not Pay Act to correct this 
injustice. This legislation prevents convicted felons from collecting 
damages for injuries incurred while committing the felony. It closes a 
loophole that permits criminals to get rich while committing a felony.
  For example, in California, a jury awarded more than $100,000 to 
Brian Forrett, a career criminal who broke into a home and tied up the 
residents. He then fired at one of the residents and missed, and shot 
at the other resident, blinding him. Forrett was shot by police 
officers while trying to escape and is now receiving $26,183 from each 
of the four officers that fired on him while he serves a 32-year prison 
sentence for robbery.
  It is not right that criminals can receive damages when they are 
injured in the commission of a felony. This is a travesty of justice 
and this bill will prevent such miscarriages of justice in the future. 
I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues and the American 
people for this legislation because Crime Does Not Pay and my 
legislation will correct this injustice.

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