Congressman Keller, Senator Toomey reintroduce Eric’s Law, call for greater protections for victims of violent crime

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) and Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) today reintroduced Eric’s Law—a bill named in honor of slain USP Canaan correctional officer Eric Williams.

 

In 2013, Officer Williams was savagely murdered and stabbed more than 200 times by an inmate who was already serving a life sentence. A jury later found the inmate guilty of Eric’s murder, but because one out of 12 jurors voted against the death penalty, he faced no additional penalty for this heinous crime.

 

Eric’s Law aims to correct this miscarriage of justice by amending current law to allow federal prosecutors to impanel a second jury for the sentencing phase of a federal death penalty case in the event that the first jury fails to reach a unanimous decision.

 

Congressmen Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Ralph Norman (SC-05), and Dan Crenshaw (TX-02) joined Keller in reintroducing Eric’s Law in the 117th Congress.

 

On the reintroduction of Eric’s Law, Congressman Fred Keller made the following statement:

 

“Officer Williams’ tragic killing and the aftermath reveal a glaring injustice for victims of violent crime. Officer Williams died protecting our community and we owe it to him and others like him to punish the violent criminals who commit these acts. In federal death penalty cases where the defendant is found guilty but not given a death sentence, Eric’s Law would affirm the option for review of the penalty phase, ensuring victims and their families have every opportunity to pursue the justice they deserve.”  

 

Senator Pat Toomey:

 

“Officer Eric Williams was killed by a violent gang member while on-duty. His murderer's crime largely went unpunished, even though eleven out of twelve jurors voted for the death penalty, because he was already serving a life sentence. Our legislation will fix this flaw in our justice system and help ensure no family has to see violent criminals avoid justice.”

 

Don Williams, President of Voices of J.O.E. and Eric Williams’ father:

 

“With the bang of a judge’s gavel, the man who brutally murdered our son was sentenced to ‘life.’ However, this inmate was already serving a life term for another murder he committed.  Eleven jurors voted for the death penalty, one voted against it.  It was the singular vote from that abstaining juror that determined the entire outcome of the trial.  Our family felt that justice was denied, and the wrong message was sent throughout the prison system.  Enacting Eric’s Law will change this unfair sentencing system whereby the victims’ rights are given equal weight.”

 

Shane Fausey, National President, Council of Prison Locals:

 

"The horrific murder of Officer Eric Williams is a stark reminder of the danger and extreme violence our officers face every day in our nation's federal prisons. To balance responsible criminal justice reform, more weight and consideration must be given to protect the victims of violent crime.  The constitutional protections of Eric's Law will help protect victims of violent crime, like our officers and their surviving families.  Officers like Eric Williams, and their families that share them every day, have sacrificed everything protecting others.  We are asking the members of the 117th Congress to support the victims of violent crime and co-sponsor Eric's Law."  

 

Patrick Yoes, National President, Fraternal Order of Police:

 

“At a time when law enforcement officers are being targeted with violence, I believe it is important that our nation's law enforcement officers have confidence that our criminal justice system will deliver justice to those who kill our officers.  Your bill will amend the current law to allow federal prosecutors impanel a second jury for the sentencing phase of a federal capital case if the first jury does not reach a unanimous decision on the sentence.”

 

Find full text of this legislation here.

 

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