A bill to amend title 18 of the United States Code to provide penalties for the taking and holding of hostages by inmates of Federal prisons, and for the making of certain agreements with such inmates to secure the release of such hostages.

Provides that whoever, being an inmate of a Federal penal or correctional institution, abducts, restrains, kidnaps, or holds as a hostage any person shall be punished: (1) by death if the person abducted, restrained, kidnapped, or held as a hostage has not been liberated unharmed, and if the verdict of the jury shall so recommend, or in the case of a plea of guilty, or a plea of not guilty where the defendant has waived a trial by jury, if the court in its discretion shall so order; or (2) by imprisonment for any term of years or for life, if the death penalty is not imposed.

Provides that whoever, being an inmate of a Federal penal or correctional institution, attempts or conspires, to abduct, restrain, kidnap, or hold as a hostage any person shall be imprisoned not more than ten years.

Voids any agreement to pardon or grant amnesty to any such inmate for the safe release of a hostage, other than such an agreement by the President.