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S. 985

Child Abuse Victims' Rights Act of 1986

(Measure passed Senate, amended)

Child Abuse Victims' Rights Act of 1986 - Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute to extend its coverage to the sexual exploitation of children.

Allows any minor who is a victim of such a RICO violation to bring a civil action in an appropriate district court and recover treble damages. Provides a six-year statute of limitations for such actions.

Increases the penalties for offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Increases from two years to five years the mandatory minimum sentence for repeat offenders.

Requires the Attorney General, within one year, to report to the Congress, recommending possible changes in the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and other Federal courtroom, prosecutorial, and investigative procedures which would facilitate the participation of child witnesses in cases involving child abuse and sexual exploitation. Specifies a list of considerations, including: (1) the use of closed circuit cameras, two-way mirrors, and other out-of-court statements; (2) the use of judicial discretion to circumscribe the use of harassment and confusing questioning; (3) the use of videotape in investigations; (4) the possibility of streamlining investigative procedures; and (5) improved training of prosecutorial and investigative staff in the special problem of child witnesses.

Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA](R-IA)Sponsor
6 cosponsors4 D2 R
6cosponsors2committees15actions28subjects
  1. Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  2. Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  3. IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  4. Floor

    By Senator Thurmond from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 99-504.

    Judiciary Committee
  5. Committee14900

    By Senator Thurmond from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 99-504.

    Judiciary Committee
  6. Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 872.

  7. Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Thurmond with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Judiciary Committee
  8. Committee14000

    Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Thurmond with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Judiciary Committee
  9. Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Judiciary Committee
  10. Committee

    Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 99-493.

    Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights Subcommittee
  11. Committee

    Committee on Judiciary requested executive comment from Justice Department.

    Judiciary Committee
  12. Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Referred jointly to the Subcommittee on Criminal Law.

    Terrorism, Technology, and Government Information Subcommittee
  13. Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Referred jointly to the Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice.

    Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights Subcommittee
  14. IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  15. IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Oct 18, 198635
(Measure passed Senate, amended)

Child Abuse Victims' Rights Act of 1986 - Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute to extend its coverage to the sexual exploitation of children.

Allows any minor who is a victim of such a RICO violation to bring a civil action in an appropriate district court and recover treble damages. Provides a six-year statute of limitations for such actions.

Increases the penalties for offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Increases from two years to five years the mandatory minimum sentence for repeat offenders.

Requires the Attorney General, within one year, to report to the Congress, recommending possible changes in the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and other Federal courtroom, prosecutorial, and investigative procedures which would facilitate the participation of child witnesses in cases involving child abuse and sexual exploitation. Specifies a list of considerations, including: (1) the use of closed circuit cameras, two-way mirrors, and other out-of-court statements; (2) the use of judicial discretion to circumscribe the use of harassment and confusing questioning; (3) the use of videotape in investigations; (4) the possibility of streamlining investigative procedures; and (5) improved training of prosecutorial and investigative staff in the special problem of child witnesses.

Aug 15, 198601
(Reported to Senate from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment (without written report))

Child Abuse Victims' Rights Act of 1986 - Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute to extend its coverage to the sexual exploitation of children.

Allows any minor who is a victim of such a RICO violation to bring a civil action in an appropriate district court and recover treble damages. Provides a six-year statute of limitations for such actions.

Increases the penalties for offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Increases from two years to five years the mandatory minimum sentence for repeat offenders.

Requires the Attorney General, within one year, to report to the Congress recommending possible changes in the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and other Federal courtroom, prosecutorial, and investigative procedures which would facilitate the participation of child witnesses in cases involving child abuse and sexual exploitation. Specifies a list of considerations, including: (1) the use of closed circuit cameras, two-way mirrors, and other out-of-court statements; (2) the use of judicial discretion to circumscribe the use of harassment and confusing questioning; (3) the use of videotape in investigations; (4) the possibility of streamlining investigative procedures; and (5) improved training of prosecutorial and investigative staff in the special problem of child witnesses.

Apr 24, 198500

Child Abuse Victims Rights Act of 1985-Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Statute to extend its coverage to the sexual exploitation of children.

Authorizes a civil suit for treble damages for any persons injured personally or in their business or property by violations of RICO.

Amends the Federal criminal code to provide a mandatory life sentence for any person who kidnaps an individual under the age of 18. Imposes the death penalty in any case where such victim dies as the result of the kidnapping.

Increases the penalties for offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Provides for a mandatory minimum sentence for second offenders. Requires the Attorney General, within one year, to submit a report to the Congress recommending possible changes in the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and other courtroom prosecutorial and investigative procedures which would facilitate the participation of child witnesses in cases involving child abuse and sexual exploitation.

Specifies a list of considerations including: (1) the use of closed-circuit cameras, two-way mirrors, and other out-of-court statements; (2) the use of judicial discretion to circumscribe the use of harassment or confusing questions; (3) the use of videotape in investigations; (4) the possibility of streamlining, investigative procedures; and (5) improved training of prosecutorial and investigative staff in the special problems of child witnesses.

Requires the Attorney General to modify the classification system used by the National Crime Information Center in its Interstate Identification Index, and by the Identification Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with respect to offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children, to include the age of the victim and the relationship of the victim to the offender. Requires such classification to use a uniform definition of a child.

Amends the Missing Children's Assistance Act to increase by one the membership of the Advisory Board on Missing Children.

Child Abuse Victims' Rights Act of 1986 — Informed