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S 2455 100th Congress Senate

A bill entitled "Death Penalty in case of Drug Related Killings".

Introduced: May 27, 1988 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Capital punishmentCourts and Civil ProcedureCrime preventionCriminal procedure
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Criminal procedure and sentencingDiscriminationDrugs and narcoticsHomicideJudicial reviewJuriesLaw enforcement officersMurderNarcotic trafficSentences (Criminal procedure)
This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 14, 1988
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jun 10, 1988
Considered by Senate.
Jun 10, 1988
Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 65-29. Record Vote No: 175.
Jun 10, 1988
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 65-29. Record Vote No: 175.
Jun 9, 1988
Cloture invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 70-26. Record Vote No: 172.
Jun 9, 1988
Considered by Senate.
Jun 8, 1988
Cloture motion presented in Senate.
Jun 8, 1988
Measure laid before Senate.
May 27, 1988
Introduced in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 710.
May 27, 1988
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 6

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

5 agreed to 1 pending / other

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 2,343 – To make certain technical corrections. Agreed to Jun 10, 1988
SAMDT 2,342 – To reduce race discrimination in capital sentencing. Agreed to Jun 10, 1988
SAMDT 2,341 – To eliminate the death penalty for killing an individual while engaging in a continuing criminal drug enterpr… Agreed to Jun 10, 1988
SAMDT 2,340 – To require that executions be carried out in public and to provide employees of State and Federal correctiona… Agreed to Jun 10, 1988
SAMDT 2,339 – To substitute mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of release for the death penalty. Agreed to Jun 9, 1988
SAMDT 2,337 – To reduce race discrimination in capital sentencing. Pending –
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 Latest action June 14, 1988

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Controlled Substances Act to establish criteria for the imposition of the death penalty where any person: (1) engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise intentionally, or with reckless indifference to human life, kills or participates in the killing of any individual; or (2) intentionally, or with reckless indifference to human life, kills or participates in the killing of a law enforcement officer during the commission of, in furtherance of, or while attempting to avoid apprehension, prosecution, or service of a prison term for a felony violation of such Act.

Requires the Government, for such offense, to serve notice upon the defendant a reasonable time before trial or acceptance of a plea, disclosing that it intends to seek the death penalty and the aggravating factors upon which it will rely.

Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury, or the court upon motion by the defendant, when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to such offense.

Allows the defendant and the Government to present any information relevant to sentencing, without regard to the rules of evidence, but permits information to be excluded where its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading of the jury.

Directs the court, or the jury by unanimous vote, to impose the death penalty upon finding that such sentence is justified based on consideration of both aggravating and mitigating factors.

States that a sentence of death shall not be imposed upon any person: (1) who was under 18 years of age at the time the crime was committed; or (2) who, by reason of mental disease or defect, is unable to understand their impending death or its reasons.

Sets forth some mitigating factors to be considered by the jury or the court when imposing its sentence. Includes as aggravating factors to be considered by the jury or the court: (1) the intentional nature of the act which resulted in the victim's death; (2) previous convictions for controlled substances Act violations; and (3) the especially heinous, cruel, or depraved nature of the offense.

Requires the court to instruct the jury not to consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant in its consideration of the sentence. Requires each juror to return a signed certificate stating that race, color, national origin, creed, and the sex of the defendant were not considerations in determining the sentence.

Allows the court to impose a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for such offenses when the death penalty is not imposed.

Establishes procedures for appeal from a death sentence. Requires the Court of Appeals, upon consideration of the record and the information and procedures of the sentencing hearing, to affirm the decision if: (1) the sentence was not imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or arbitrariness; and (2) the information supports the finding of aggravating factors or the absence of mitigating factors. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination.

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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2455: A bill entitled "Death Penalty in case of Drug Related Killings".. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-S-2455/
MLA
"S. 2455: A bill entitled "Death Penalty in case of Drug Related Killings".." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-S-2455/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2455, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-S-2455/.
Markdown link
[S. 2455: A bill entitled "Death Penalty in case of Drug Related Killings".](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-S-2455/)
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