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Protecting Confidentiality of Incarcerated Persons' Communications with Attorneys

New rules aim to protect the privacy of electronic communications between incarcerated individuals and their legal representatives. This means the content of these communications will not be monitored, strengthening the right to defense and attorney-client privilege. Access to this data will only be possible in very limited, strictly defined circumstances, such as with a court warrant.
Key points
Prohibition on monitoring electronic communications between incarcerated persons and their attorneys, protecting their right to confidential communication.
Implementation of a new system or modification of existing ones to ensure unmonitored communication.
Access to retained communications only in exceptional circumstances, such as with a court warrant and after review by a U.S. Attorney to exclude privileged content.
Possibility to suppress evidence obtained in violation of these rules in legal proceedings.
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VOTING RESULTS
2021-02-24
97%
For 414
Against 11
Abstain 0
Full voting results open_in_new
Status: Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_546
Sponsor: Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8]
Process start date: 2021-01-28
Voting date: 2021-02-24
Meeting no: 1
Voting no: 36
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure — full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source—always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_546.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-01-28.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Prohibition on monitoring electronic communications between incarcerated persons and their attorneys, protecting their right to confidential communication.
  • Implementation of a new system or modification of existing ones to ensure unmonitored communication.
  • Access to retained communications only in exceptional circumstances, such as with a court warrant and after review by a U.S. Attorney to exclude privileged content.
  • Possibility to suppress evidence obtained in violation of these rules in legal proceedings.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Where is the official voting record?

The official roll call vote is recorded at: voting record

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 11 (Roll no. 36). (text: 02/23/2020 CR H557-558)

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-28.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know—that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Courts and Law Security