Senator's Webb(D-VA), Specter(D-PA) Introduce Bill to Overhaul America's Criminal Justice System
Blue-Ribbon Commission to Offer Reforms on Incarceration Rates, Sentencing Policies, Gang Violence, Prison Administration & Reintegration of Offenders
[Note: This article is from prior to Senator Specter's switch to the Democrats]
Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to create a blue-ribbon commission charged with conducting an 18-month, top-to-bottom review of th
More..e nation’s entire criminal justice system and offering concrete recommendations for reform. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Ranking Member on the Judiciary Committee, is the principal Republican cosponsor.
“America’s criminal justice system has deteriorated to the point that it is a national disgrace,” said Senator Webb. “With five percent of the world’s population, our country houses twenty-five percent of the world’s prison population. Incarcerated drug offenders have soared 1200% since 1980. And four times as many mentally ill people are in prisons than in mental health hospitals. We should be devoting precious law enforcement capabilities toward making our communities safer. Our neighborhoods are at risk from gang violence, including transnational gang violence.
“There have been many commissions in recent years, but the problems which we are now confronting warrant a fresh look,” Senator Specter said. “This commission has the potential to really make some very significant advances in public security and protection from the violent criminals. I look forward to working with Senator Webb and my colleagues in the Senate on this important legislation.”
The National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 is the result of decades of investigation and more than two years of intensive fact-finding in the U.S. Senate. In the 110th Congress, Webb chaired two hearings of the Joint Economic Committee that examined various aspects of the criminal justice system. In October of 2008, he conducted a symposium on drugs in America at George Mason University Law Center.
The high-level commission created by the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 legislation will be comprised of experts in fields including criminal justice, law enforcement, public heath, national security, prison administration, social services, prisoner reentry, and victims’ rights. It will be led by a chairperson to be appointed by the President. The Majority and Minority Leaders in the House and Senate, and the Democratic and Republican Governors Associations will appoint the remaining members of the commission.
Webb continued: “There is great appreciation from most in this country that we are doing something drastically wrong. And, I am gratified that Senator Specter has joined me as the lead Republican cosponsor of this effort. We are committed to getting this legislation passed and enacted into law this year.”
Commissioners will be tasked with proposing tangible, wide-ranging reforms designed to responsibly reduce the overall incarceration rate; improve federal and local responses to international and domestic gang violence; restructure our approach to drug criminalization; improve the treatment of mental illness; improve prison administration; and establish a system for reintegrating ex-offenders.
In addition to Senators Webb and Specter, original cosponsors of the legislation include: Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Crime and Drugs Subcommittee Chairman Richard Durbin (D-IL), Crime and Drugs Subcommittee Ranking Member Lindsay Graham (R-SC), and Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Mark Warner (D-VA), Roland Burris (D-IL), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
For a copy of the legislation visit http://webb.senate.gov/email/criminaljusticereform.html (also directly linked below).
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Added: May 2 2009 In: news_politics,education
Recorded on: Mar 26 2009
By: Macky_J 
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http://webb.senate.gov - Criminal Justice Reform (Link)
Comments - sort by newest to oldest
Forgot to add: To support the creation of this commission you can sign the petition at the following link:
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5663/t/5525/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=330
Posted May-2-2009 by "Macky_J" (R)
You break the law you go to jail. I see no problem. And biparitsan??? riiiigght
Posted May-2-2009 by "remcorebond" (R)
Yes, bipartisan.
It is mandatory to include members appointed to the commission by both the Republicans and Democrats, members who all hold the same powers.
The Commission is made up of representatives from both parties, thus making it bipartisan.
Posted May-2-2009 by "Macky_J" (R)
You may not see a problem but it's still costing you money.
Now is web a prison guard union shill or is he one who make them nervous?
Posted May-2-2009 by "40s" (R)
Now is web a prison guard union shill or is he one who make them nervous?
He's one who makes them nervous.
Should give his cover story from Parade Magazine entitled "What's Wrong With Our Prisons" a reading. It can be found here in PDF format:
http://webb.senate.gov/email/incardocs/parade_jimwebb.pdf
Posted May-3-2009 by "Macky_J" (R)
Now is web a prison guard union shill or is he one who make them nervous?
He's one who makes them nervous.
Should give his cover story from Parade Magazine entitled "What's Wrong With Our Prisons" a reading. It can be found here in PDF format:
http://webb.senate.gov/email/incardocs/parade_jimwebb.pdf
Thanks. Some CO's make nearly $100,000 a year w/ overtime here in Cali.
Posted May-3-2009 by "40s" (R)
Damn those judges and juries anyway. And damn all those pesky laws too.
Thank goodness Congress will fix it.
(rolling my eyes)
Posted May-3-2009 by "marinemom" (R)
The USA incarcerates more people than any other nation on the planet. Either we are the most lawless country on earth or there is something wrong with the way the judicial system is administered. I'm thinking the latter.
Posted May-3-2009 by "sallyII" (R)
I am a strong conservative, however, I have a great amount of concern for the warehousing of the mentally ill.
Posted May-3-2009 by "sgtjab" (R)
It needs overhauling. All the people on death row need to be executed this year. All of them. This will make room for more felons and put an end to all the stupid lawsuits out there where the felons are suing for overcrowding. As far as I am concerned they should stick them all on an island and let them fend for themselves. Screw this paying $40,000 a year to keep them in a cell.
Posted May-3-2009 by "1949bboy" (R)