Getting Serious About Document Preservation
A bill has been introduced in Congress to provide a minimum of five years imprisonment for improper document destruction.
Section 6 of the Bill proposes to amend 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c) which currently reads as follows:
"Whoever corruptly--
(1) alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the object's integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or
(2) otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both."
Section 6(a)(3) of the bill would strike “or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both” and insert “and imprisoned not less than 5 years nor more than 20 years.”
Hearings have already been held on the Bill.