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H.R. 956 115th Congress House

Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

Official title: To regulate monitoring of electronic communications between a prisoner in a Bureau of Prisons facility and that prisoner's attorney or other legal representative, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 7, 2017 Introduced by: Hakeem S. Jeffries Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Correctional facilities and imprisonmentIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationLawyers and legal servicesRight of privacyTelephone and wireless communication
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 9, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Feb 7, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 7, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 9, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

This bill prohibits monitoring the contents of an electronic communication between a prisoner at a Bureau of Prisons facility and his or her attorney.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 3356 Prison Reform and Redemption Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 956: Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-956/
MLA
"H.R. 956: Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-956/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 956, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-956/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 956: Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-956/)
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