[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 158 (Wednesday, November 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S14520]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF DANGEROUS CRIMINALS ACT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the recent escape of convicted child 
murderer Kyle Bell from a private prison transport bus should serve as 
a wake-up call, to the Congress and to the country. Kyle Bell slipped 
off a TransCorp America bus on October 13, while the bus was stopped in 
New Mexico for gas. Apparently, he picked the locks on his handcuffs 
and leg irons, pushed his way out of a rooftop vent, hid out of sight 
of the guards who traveled with the bus, and then slipped to the ground 
as it pulled away. He was wearing his own street clothes and shoes. The 
TransCorp guards did not notice that Bell was missing until nine hours 
later, and then delayed in notifying New Mexico authorities. Bell is 
still at large.
  Kyle Bell's escape is not an isolated case. In recent years, there 
have been several escapes by violent criminals when vans broke down or 
guards fell asleep on duty. There have also been an alarming number of 
traffic accidents in which prisoners were seriously injured or killed 
because drivers were tired, inattentive, or poorly trained.
  Privatization of prisons and prisoner transportation services may be 
cost efficient, but public safety must come first. The Interstate 
Transportation of Dangerous Criminals Act requires the Attorney General 
to set minimum standards for private prison transport companies, 
including standards on employee training and restrictions on the number 
of hours that employees can be on duty during a given time period. A 
violation is punishable by a $10,000 fine, plus restitution for the 
cost of recapturing any violent prisoner who escapes as the result of 
such violation. This should create a healthy incentive for companies to 
abide by the regulations and operate responsibly.
  I commend Senator Dorgan for his leadership on this legislation and 
urge its speedy passage.

                          ____________________