Burchett / 6 Senator Torreon

S.B._____

A JOINT RESOLUTION
To abolish the death penalty in the United States and to convert the sentences of those who are on death row to life
without parole.
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE
This act may be cited as the Death to the Death Penalty Act of 2015.
SECTION 2. FINDINGS
Congress hereby finds and declares that,
A) It costs far more to execute a person than to keep him or her in prison for life.
B) There is no credible evidence that capital punishment deters crime.
C) Innocent people have been convicted and executed.
D) Race plays a role in determining who lives and who dies.
E) Capital punishment goes against almost every religion.
F) Race plays a role in determining who lives and who dies.
G) The death penalty diverts resources from genuine crime control.
H) Bad lawyers are a persistent problem in capital cases.
I) The death penalty disregards mental illness.
J) The death penalty encourages killing.
K) Life without parole is a sensitive alternative to the death penalty as well as one that carries out its punishment.
SECTION 3. STATUTORY LANGUAGE
A)The Constitution of the United States of America is hereby amended as follows:
The act of putting a person to death as punishment for a crime is hereby banned. The maximum penalty for any crime
that one may be sentenced to will be life in prison without parole. All federal prisoners who are currently on death
row shall have their sentence commuted to life in prison without parole. Any prisoners of the states who are currently
waiting to have their death sentence carried out shall have their sentence commuted to one that is deemed appropriate
by the state within 90 days of ratification. All prisoners that are/were put to life without parole shall not have the
luxury of a recess, reading of literature, playing of instruments, and participation of sports. Prisoners on life without
parole are not granted the regular interval of contact with any relatives or friends, and instead will only be allowed
communication with said relatives or friends once per year. All prisoners are to be confined within their cells with
two guards on duty in case of attempted suicide. Any prisoner that on life without parole that is severely wounded
must be seen by a prison doctor and treated immediately. This article shall take effect upon ratification by 34 of the
state legislatures.
B)The Department of Justice will be responsible for ensuring that the death penalty ceases to be used and
that the states assign new sentences to prisoners on death row within 90 days of ratification. Funding will come from
the money that was used to hold cases, hire lawyers, and to hire investigators for the death penalty. If the funding is
insufficient, then the tax on tobacco will be increased by 2% and tax on medical marijuana will be increased by 3%.
C) This joint resolution will be enacted on January 1st, 2016 and will expire in 10 years unless renewed. Any prison
that fails to comply with the terms of this act will be forced to comply and the workers shall have their salaries
reduced by a fifth.