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S 1996 97th Congress Senate

Violent Crime Act of 1981

Official title: A bill to provide for more effective deterrents for violent crime offenders.

Introduced: December 16, 1981 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement AssaultCorrections and Correctional InstitutionsCrime preventionCriminal investigation
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Criminal lawCriminal procedureCriminal procedure and sentencingDrug industryDrugs and narcoticsDrugstoresFederal employees and officialsFederal officialsFederal-state relationsFirearmsFirearms controlGovernment Operations and PoliticsHomicideKidnappingNarcotic trafficNarcotics and crimeOrganized crimeParoleProbationProtection of officialsPunishmentRobberySentences (Criminal procedure)
This bill died when the 97th Congress ended
It never became law before the 97th Congress (1981–1982) 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
Dec 23, 1981
Committee on Judiciary. Jointly referred to the Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice for the purpose only of considering those provisions pertaining to juvenile justice.
Dec 23, 1981
Committee on Judiciary. Jointly referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution for the purpose only of considering those provisions pertaining to bail reform.
Dec 23, 1981
Committee on Judiciary. Jointly referred to the Subcommittee on Criminal Law.
Dec 16, 1981
Read second time and referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary.
Dec 16, 1981
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action December 23, 1981

Committee on Judiciary. Jointly referred to the Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice for the purpose only of considering those provisions pertaining to juvenile justice.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Violent Crime Act of 1981 - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish a mandatory minimum sentence of five years' imprisonment for dangerous special offenders. Makes such defendants ineligible for probation or parole.

Extends the category of dangerous special offenders to include defendants who: (1) use or threaten to use a firearm or dangerous weapon during commission of the felony; and (2) inflict serious bodily injury upon another individual while committing, attempting to commit, or concealing commission of the felony.

Broadens the coverage of the prohibition against killing designated U.S. employees to include killing any U.S. employee on account of the performance of his or her official duties.

Applies the current prohibition against Congressional assassination or assault to heads of executive departments.

Establishes as new Federal crimes: (1) contract murder or assault; (2) assaulting, kidnapping, murdering, or threatening the relative of any Federal employee with intent to interfere with such employee's official duties; and (3) robbery of a pharmacy engaged in interstate sales by anyone who has previously engaged in a pattern of such robberies.

Sets as a specific goal of the Justice Department's narcotics law enforcement policy the identification and elimination of the 100 most sophisticated narcotic trafficking organizations in America. Directs the Attorney General to report to Congress on how reorganization of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department's general narcotics control policy will accomplish this goal.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1996: Violent Crime Act of 1981. 97th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-1996/
MLA
"S. 1996: Violent Crime Act of 1981." 97th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-1996/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1996, 97th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-1996/.
Markdown link
[S. 1996: Violent Crime Act of 1981](https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-1996/)
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