Signature achievement is "Megan's Law" for sex offendors
One of Dick Zimmer's signature achievements is the federal "Megan's Law." Named for Megan Kanka, a seven-year-old
New Jersey girl murdered by a sexual predator, the law ensures that neighbors are notified of the presence of sexual offenders in their communities.
Source: Campaign website, www.zimmerforsenate.com, "Issues"
May 2, 2008
No frills prisons: no luxuries at taxpayer expense
Zimmer wrote and won passage of "no frills prisons" legislation to make sure prisoners are not provided with perks and luxuries at taxpayer expense.
The legislation eliminated perks such as in-cell cable television, R-rated movies and martial arts training.
Source: Campaign website, www.zimmerforsenate.com, "Issues"
May 2, 2008
Voted NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals.
Vote on an amendment to delete provisions in the bill that would make it harder for prisoners who have been given the death penalty in state courts to appeal the decision on constitutional grounds in the federal courts ['Habeas Corpus'].
Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder.
Vote on a bill to make it harder for prisoners who have been given the death penalty in state courts to appeal the decision on constitutional grounds in the federal courts.
Megan's Law: public list of sexually violent offenders.
Zimmer introduced Megan's Law: public list of sexually violent offenders
Megan's Law - Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to require the release of relevant information to protect the public from sexually violent offenders:
require (current law authorizes) State and local law enforcement agencies to release relevant information that is necessary to protect the public concerning persons required to register under the Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act; and
provide that any information collected under such a program may be disclosed for any purpose permitted under the laws of the State.
Legislative Outcome: Became Public Law No: 104-145
Source: Megan's Law (H.R.2137) 95-H2137 on Jul 27, 1995
Prevent luxurious conditions in prisons.
Zimmer introduced preventing luxurious conditions in prisons
To amend the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to prevent luxurious conditions in prisons. The "No Frills Prison Act" requires each State, to be eligible for truth in sentencing incentive grants, to demonstrate that it:
provides living conditions and opportunities within its prisons that are not more luxurious than those that the average prisoner would have experienced if not incarcerated;
does not provide to any such prisoner specified benefits or privileges, including earned good time credits, less than 40 hours a week of work that either offsets or reduces the expenses of keeping the prisoner or provides resources toward restitution of victims, unmonitored phone calls (with exceptions), in-cell television viewing, possession of pornographic materials, instruction or training equipment for any martial art or bodybuilding or weightlifting equipment,
or dress or hygiene other than as is uniform or standard in the prison; and
in the case of a prisoner serving a sentence for a crime of violence which resulted in serious bodily injury to another, does not provide housing other than in separate cell blocks intended for violent prisoners, less than nine hours a day of physical labor (with exceptions), any release from the prison for any purpose unless under physical or mechanical restraint and under constant supervision of at least one armed correctional officer, or any viewing of television.
Source: No Frills Prison Act (H.R.663) 95-HR663 on Jan 24, 1995
Establish an FBI registry of sexual offendors.
Zimmer introduced the Sexual Offender Tracking and Identification Act
Establish a national database at the FBI to track each person who has been convicted of a criminal offense against a minor or a sexually violent offense; or is a sexually violent predator.
Requires each such person who resides in a State that has not established a minimally sufficient sexual offender registration program to register a current address, fingerprints, and a current photograph with the FBI for inclusion in such database, except during ensuing periods of incarceration
This requirement extends until ten years after the date on which the person was released from prison or placed on parole or probation; or for the life of the person if that person has two or more convictions for any such offense, has been convicted of aggravated sexual abuse, or has been determined to be a sexually violent predator.
Corresponding House bill is H.R.3456. Became Public Law No: 104-236.
Source: Bill sponsored by 15 Senators and 3 Reps 96-S1675 on Apr 16, 1996
