Barney Frank: “This amendment does not affect any court action brought against prison officials that might violate the criminals'…”

“This amendment does not affect any court action brought against prison officials that might violate the criminals' rights or even prison conditions. There are other kinds of remedies that can come into play here. What we are just saying is do not turn felons out, and surely the gentleman is not for turning felons out, including nonviolent felons like drug dealers, out on the street just because prison conditions may be overcrowded and they could put prisoners in tents.”