PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 16, 1996
Federal Prison Reform Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal criminal code to require each Federal facility for the confinement of persons convicted of offenses against the United States, insofar as practical, to observe the standards for prisoner living space and other prison conditions that are established by recognized prison accreditation agencies. Permits such facilities to fail to meet any such standards when, in the judgment of prison officials, overcrowding, financial strain, prison size, absence of on-site facilities, or other circumstances make it necessary to do so. Sets forth specific standards that each Federal prison shall observe with respect to: (1) manual labor (requires prisoners to spend a minimum of ten hours per day, six days a week, doing manual labor); (2) chain gangs; (3) nutrition; (4) exercise; (5) limits on the media; and (6) amenities.
People & committees
Rep. Tate, Randy [R-WA-9] · R–WA
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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