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HR 3895 103th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Consent decrees Constitutional law Contempt of court Corrections Damages Fines (Penalties) Injunctions Law Prison overcrowding

Prison Management Relief Act of 1994

Introduced: February 24, 1994 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 103rd Congress ended
It never became law before the 103rd Congress (1993–1994) 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 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 21, 1994
See H.R.4092.
Mar 1, 1994
Referred to the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and Judicial Administration.
Feb 24, 1994
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Feb 24, 1994
Introduced in House
Feb 23, 1994
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H565)
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Prison Management Relief Act of 1994 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit a Federal court from holding prison or jail crowding unconstitutional under the eighth amendment except to the extent that an individual plaintiff inmate proves that the crowding causes the infliction of cruel and unusual punishment of that inmate. Specifies that the relief in such a case shall not extend further than necessary to remove the conditions that are causing the cruel and unusual punishment of the plaintiff inmate.

Prohibits a Federal court from placing a ceiling on the inmate population of any Federal, State, or local detention facility as an equitable remedial measure for conditions that violate the eighth amendment unless crowding is inflicting cruel and unusual punishment on particular identified prisoners. Specifies that such provision shall not be construed to have any effect on Federal judicial power to issue equitable relief other than that so described, including the requirement of improved medical or health care and the imposition of civil contempt fines or damages, where such relief is appropriate.

Requires that each Federal court order or consent decree seeking to remedy an eighth amendment violation be reopened at the behest of a defendant for recommended modification at a minimum of two-year intervals.

Makes the preceding provisions applicable to all outstanding court orders on the date of this Act's enactment. Entitles any State or municipality to seek modification of any outstanding eighth amendment decree pursuant to such provisions.

What's happening now April 21, 1994

See H.R.4092.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3895: Prison Management Relief Act of 1994. 103rd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-3895/
MLA
"H.R. 3895: Prison Management Relief Act of 1994." 103rd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-3895/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3895, 103rd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-3895/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3895: Prison Management Relief Act of 1994](https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-3895/)
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