NCJ Number
95253
Date Published
1984
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A deputy assistant attorney general from the Department of Justice's Criminal Division explains how three antiterrorism bills (H.R. 5612, H.R. 5689, and H.R. 5690) will close several loopholes in existing law and provide additional tools to combat international terrorism.
Abstract
H.R. 5690, the Aircraft Sabotage Act, will implement fully the United States' obligation under the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation. This agreement requires parties to assume criminal jurisdiction over persons found within their territory who are suspected of having destroyed a civil aircraft, regardless of where the act was committed. H.R. 5689 amends current Federal kidnapping statutes to implement responsibilities assumed under the International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages. It also revises current laws to allow the Attorney General to request assistance from a Federal, State, or local agency in hostage situations, notwithstanding any laws or rules to the contrary. H.R. 5189 provides broad jurisdiction over the hostagetaking offense, creating U.S. Federal jurisdiction in the event the perpetrator evades the jurisdiction of the courts of the country where the crime was committed. Finally, H.R. 5612 provides for the payment of rewards for information on international terrorists and allows the Attorney General to grant an alien permanent residence or placement in the Witness Protection Program in exchange for such information.