Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 72 Part 1.djvu/887

 72 S T A T. ]

PUBLIC LAW 85-752-AUG. 25, 1958

845

Public Law 85-752 JOINT RESOLUTION To improve the administration of justice by auttiorizing the Judicial Conference of the United States to establish institutes and joint councils on sentencing, to provide additional methods of sentencing, and for other purposes. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That chapter 15 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding the following section: "§ 334. Institutes and joint councils on sentencing " (a) In the interest of uniformity in sentencing procedures, there is hereby authorized to be established under the auspices of the Judicial Conference of the United States, institutes and joint councils on sentencing. The Attorney General and/or the chief judge of each circuit may at any time request, through the Director of the iVdministrative Office of the United States Courts, the Judicial Conference to convene such institutes and joint councils for the purpose of studying, discussing, and formulating the objectives, policies, standards, and criteria for sentencing those convicted of crimes and offenses in the courts of the United States. The agenda of the institutes and joint councils may include but shall not be limited to: (1) The development of standards for the content and utilization of presentence reports; (2) the establishment of factors to be used in selecting cases for special study and observation in prescribed diagnostic clinics; (3) the determination of the importance of psychiatric, emotional, sociological and physiological factors involved in crime and their bearing upon sentences; (4) the discussion of special sentencing problems in unusual cases such as treason, violation of public trust, subversion, or involving abnormal sex behavior, addiction to drugs or alcohol, and mental or physical handicaps; (5) the formulation of sentencing principles and criteria which will assist in promoting the equitable administration of the criminal laws of the United States. "(b) After the Judicial Conference has approved the time, place, participants, agenda, and other arrangements for such institutes and joint councils, the chief judge of each circuit is authorized to invite the attendance of district judges under conditions which he thinks proper and which will not unduly delay the work of the courts. "(c) The Attorney General is authorized to select and direct the attendance at such institutes and meetings of United States attorneys and other officials of the Department of Justice and may invite the participation of other interested Federal officers. He may also invite specialists in sentencing methods, criminologists, psychiatrists, penologists, and others to participate in the proceedings. " (d) The expenses of attendance of judges shall be paid from applicable appropriations for the judiciary of the United States. The expenses connected with the preparation of the plans and agenda for the conference and for the travel and other expenses incident to the attendance of officials and other participants invited by the Attorney General shall be paid from applicable appropriations of the Department of Justice." SEC. 2. The chapter analysis of chapter 15 of title 28, United States Code is amended by inserting before section 331 the following item: "334. Institutes and joint councils on sentencing." SEC. 3. That chapter 311 of title 18, United States Code is amended by adding the following section: "§ 4208. Fixing eligibility for parole at time of sentencing " (a) Upon entering a judgment of conviction, the court having jurisdiction to impose sentence, when in its opinion the ends of justice

August 25, 1958 [H. J. R e s. 424]

C r i m e s and offenses. Sentencing p r o cedures. 62 Stat. 902-903.

62 Stat. 854, 855.

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