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H.R. 4249

United States Marshals Service and Witness Security Reform Act of 1984

(Measure passed House, amended, roll call #159 (376-41))

United States Marshals Service and Witness Security Reform Act of 1984 - Title I: Protection of Government Witnesses - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize the Attorney General to relocate and protect witnesses and their families involved in Federal or State trials of violent offenses. Authorizes the Attorney General to take action to protect the person from bodily injury or otherwise to assure the health, safety, and welfare of that person. States that the Attorney General shall not protect any person where the risk of danger to the public in the proposed community of relocation outweighs the need for that person's testimony or where such protection would infringe on the relationship between a child who would be relocated and a non-relocated parent.

Requires the Attorney General to establish guidelines defining the types of cases which constitute "violent offenses."

Requires any person protected under this Act to enter into a memorandum with the Attorney General. Requires the memorandum to set forth such person's responsibilities, including agreement: (1) if an actual or potential witness, to provide information to all appropriate law enforcement officials and to testify in all proceedings; (2) to refrain from committing any act punishable by a prison term; (3) to take all necessary steps to avoid detection by others of the facts concerning the protection provided; (4) to cooperate with all reasonable requests of Government employees; (5) to comply with civil judgments; (6) to designate another person to act as an agent for the service of process; (7) to make a sworn statement of all outstanding legal obligations imposed by court order, and (8) to disclose any probation or parole responsibilities.

Establishes a procedure for the termination of protection upon substantive breach of such agreement. Allows an individual to file a grievance within the Department of Justice independent of the program providing protection.

Authorizes a probation officer to supervise any person provided protection under this Act who is on probation or parole under State law, provided the State involved consents to such supervision.

Provides for service of process on a protected person and compliance with a judgment in a civil proceeding.

Prohibits the relocation of a child if a party other than the protected witness has custody of the child. Requires the Department of Justice to comply with any court orders with respect to child custody and visitation. Allows for modification of such order in certain cases. Sets forth mediation and arbitration procedures with respect to child custody or visitation arrangements where a protected person is a party to a disputed order. Allows the Attorney General to seek relief from custody or visitation orders when compliance would be "substantially impossible."

Allows the Attorney General to pay restitution to, or in the case of death compensation for the death of, any victim of a crime committed by any person provided with protection. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Attorney General to establish guidelines and procedures for making such payments.

Requires all Federal agencies to cooperate with the Attorney General in carrying out this Act. Allows the Attorney General to agree with a State government to provide protection for a person.

Title II: United States Marshals Service and Service of Process - Revises the United States Marshals Service System. Authorizes the Attorney General to appoint a director and other officials. Specifies the powers and duties of the Service. Grants an official of the Service the same powers that a State sheriff may exercise. Prescribes the schedule of fees that the Service may collect.

See H.J.Res.648.

Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2](D-WI)Sponsor
11 cosponsors8 D3 R
11cosponsors3committees17actions2related bills16subjects
  1. CommitteeH19100

    See H.J.Res.648.

    Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee
  2. Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Referred jointly to the Subcommittee on Courts.

    Human Rights and the Law Subcommittee
  3. Committee

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

    Terrorism, Technology, and Government Information Subcommittee
  4. IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  5. FloorH37100

    Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 376 - 41 (Record Vote No: 159).

  6. Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 376 - 41 (Record Vote No: 159).

  7. FloorH30000

    Considered by House Unfinished Business.

  8. FloorH30000

    Called up by House Under Suspension of Rules.

  9. IntroReferralH11200

    Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means Sequentially, for a Period Ending not Later than Jun 22, 84.

    Ways and Means Committee
  10. CommitteeH12200

    Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on The Judiciary. Report No: 98-767 (Part I).

    Judiciary Committee
  11. Committee5000

    Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on The Judiciary. Report No: 98-767 (Part I).

    Judiciary Committee
  12. CommitteeH19000

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended).

    Judiciary Committee
  13. CommitteeH15000-B

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Judiciary Committee
  14. CommitteeH19100

    For Previous Action See H.R.3086.

    Judiciary Committee
  15. IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  16. IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  17. IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

May 22, 198436
(Measure passed House, amended, roll call #159 (376-41))

United States Marshals Service and Witness Security Reform Act of 1984 - Title I: Protection of Government Witnesses - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize the Attorney General to relocate and protect witnesses and their families involved in Federal or State trials of violent offenses. Authorizes the Attorney General to take action to protect the person from bodily injury or otherwise to assure the health, safety, and welfare of that person. States that the Attorney General shall not protect any person where the risk of danger to the public in the proposed community of relocation outweighs the need for that person's testimony or where such protection would infringe on the relationship between a child who would be relocated and a non-relocated parent.

Requires the Attorney General to establish guidelines defining the types of cases which constitute "violent offenses."

Requires any person protected under this Act to enter into a memorandum with the Attorney General. Requires the memorandum to set forth such person's responsibilities, including agreement: (1) if an actual or potential witness, to provide information to all appropriate law enforcement officials and to testify in all proceedings; (2) to refrain from committing any act punishable by a prison term; (3) to take all necessary steps to avoid detection by others of the facts concerning the protection provided; (4) to cooperate with all reasonable requests of Government employees; (5) to comply with civil judgments; (6) to designate another person to act as an agent for the service of process; (7) to make a sworn statement of all outstanding legal obligations imposed by court order, and (8) to disclose any probation or parole responsibilities.

Establishes a procedure for the termination of protection upon substantive breach of such agreement. Allows an individual to file a grievance within the Department of Justice independent of the program providing protection.

Authorizes a probation officer to supervise any person provided protection under this Act who is on probation or parole under State law, provided the State involved consents to such supervision.

Provides for service of process on a protected person and compliance with a judgment in a civil proceeding.

Prohibits the relocation of a child if a party other than the protected witness has custody of the child. Requires the Department of Justice to comply with any court orders with respect to child custody and visitation. Allows for modification of such order in certain cases. Sets forth mediation and arbitration procedures with respect to child custody or visitation arrangements where a protected person is a party to a disputed order. Allows the Attorney General to seek relief from custody or visitation orders when compliance would be "substantially impossible."

Allows the Attorney General to pay restitution to, or in the case of death compensation for the death of, any victim of a crime committed by any person provided with protection. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Attorney General to establish guidelines and procedures for making such payments.

Requires all Federal agencies to cooperate with the Attorney General in carrying out this Act. Allows the Attorney General to agree with a State government to provide protection for a person.

Title II: United States Marshals Service and Service of Process - Revises the United States Marshals Service System. Authorizes the Attorney General to appoint a director and other officials. Specifies the powers and duties of the Service. Grants an official of the Service the same powers that a State sheriff may exercise. Prescribes the schedule of fees that the Service may collect.

May 15, 198418
(Reported to House from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment, H. Rept. 98-767(Part I))

United States Marshals Service and Witness Security Reform Act of 1984 - Title I: Protection of Government Witnesses - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize the Attorney General to relocate and protect witnesses and their families involved in Federal or State trials of violent offenses. Authorizes the Attorney General to take action to protect the person from bodily injury or otherwise to assure the health, safety, and welfare of that person. States that the Attorney General shall not protect any person where the risk of danger to the public in the proposed community of relocation outweighs the need for that person's testimony or where such protection would infringe on the relationship between a child who would be relocated and a non-relocated parent.

Requires the Attorney General to establish guidelines defining the types of cases which constitute "violent offenses."

Requires any person protected under this Act to enter into a memorandum with the Attorney General. Requires the memorandum to set forth such person's responsibilities, including agreement: (1) if an actual or potential witness, to provide information to all appropriate law enforcement officials and to testify in all proceedings; (2) to refrain from committing any act punishable by a prison term; (3) to take all necessary steps to avoid detection by others of the facts concerning the protection provided; (4) to cooperate with all reasonable requests of Government employees; (5) to comply with civil judgments; (6) to designate another person to act as an agent for the service of process; (7) to make a sworn statement of all outstanding legal obligations imposed by court order, and (8) to disclose any probation or parole responsibilities.

Establishes a procedure for the termination of protection upon substantive breach of such agreement. Allows an individual to file a grievance within the Department of Justice independent of the program providing protection.

Authorizes a probation officer to supervise any person provided protection under this Act who is on probation or parole under State law, provided the State involved consents to such supervision.

Provides for service of process on a protected person and compliance with a judgment in a civil proceeding.

Prohibits the relocation of a child if a party other than the protected witness has custody of the child. Requires the Department of Justice to comply with any court orders with respect to child custody and visitation. Allows for modification of such order in certain cases. Sets forth mediation and arbitration procedures with respect to child custody or visitation arrangements where a protected person is a party to a disputed order. Allows the Attorney General to seek relief from custody or visitation orders when compliance would be "substantially impossible."

Allows the Attorney General to pay restitution to, or in the case of death compensation for the death of, any victim of a crime committed by any person provided with protection. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Attorney General to establish guidelines and procedures for making such payments.

Requires all Federal agencies to cooperate with the Attorney General in carrying out this Act. Allows the Attorney General to agree with a State government to provide protection for a person.

Title II: United States Marshals Service and Service of Process - Revises the United States Marshals Service System. Authorizes the Attorney General to appoint a director and other officials. Specifies the powers and duties of the Service. Grants an official of the Service the same powers that a State sheriff may exercise. Prescribes the schedule of fees that the Service may collect.

Oct 28, 198300

United States Marshals Service and Witness Security Reform Act of 1983 - Title I: Protection of Government Witnesses - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize the Attorney General to relocate and protect witnesses and their families involved in Federal or State trials of violent offenses. Authorizes the Attorney General to take action to protect the person from bodily injury or otherwise to assure the health, safety, and welfare of that person. States that the Attorney General shall not protect any person where the risk of danger to the public in the proposed community of relocation outweighs the need for that person's testimony.

Requires the Attorney General to establish guidelines defining the types of cases which constitute "violent offenses."

Requires any person protected under this Act to enter into a memorandum with the Attorney General. Requires the memorandum to set forth such person's responsibilities, including agreement to: (1) if an actual or potential witness, to provide information to all appropriate law enforcement officials and to testify in all proceedings; (2) refrain from committing any act punishable by a prison term; (3) take all necessary steps to avoid detection by others of the facts concerning the protection provided; (4) cooperate with all reasonable requests of Government employees; (5) comply with civil judgments; (6) designate another person to act as an agent for the service of process; (7) make a sworn statement of all outstanding legal obligations imposed by court order, and (8) disclose any probation or parole responsibilities.

Establishes a procedure for the termination of protection upon substantive breach of such agreement. Allows an individual to file a grievance within the Department of Justice independent of the program providing protection.

Authorizes a probation officer to supervise any person provided protection under this Act who is on probation or parole under State law, provided the State involved consents to such supervision.

Provides for service of process on a protected person and compliance with a judgment in a civil proceeding.

Sets forth arbitration procedures with respect to child custody or visitation arrangements where a protected person is a party to a disputed order.

Allows the Attorney General to pay restitution to, or in the case of death compensation for the death of, any victim of a crime committed by any person provided with protection. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Attorney General to establish guidelines and procedures for making such payments.

Requires all Federal agencies to cooperate with the Attorney General in carrying out this Act. Allows the Attorney General to agree with a State government to provide protection for a person.

Title II: United States Marshals Service and Service of Process - Revises the United States Marshals Service System. Authorizes the Attorney General to appoint a director and other officials. Specifies the powers and duties of the Service. Grants an official of the Service the same powers that a State sheriff may exercise. Prescribes the schedule of fees that the Service may collect.

United States Marshals Service and Witness Security Reform Act of 1984 — Informed