Armed Career Criminal Act

The Armed Career Criminal Act of 1984 (ACCA) is a United States federal law that provides sentence enhancements for felons who commit crimes with firearms if they are convicted of certain crimes three or more times. Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter was a key proponent for the legislation.

Armed Career Criminal Act of 1984
Acronyms (colloquial)ACCA
NicknamesArmed Career Criminal Act
Enacted bythe 98th United States Congress
Citations
Public law98-473
Statutes at Large98 Stat. 2185
Legislative history
  • Signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on October 12, 1984
United States Supreme Court cases
List

If a felon has three or more prior convictions for offenses that are "violent felony" offenses or "serious drug offenses," the Act provides a minimum sentence of fifteen years imprisonment, instead of the ten-year maximum prescribed under the Gun Control Act. The Act provides for an implied maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

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