Thursday, June 25, 2009

Senator Jim Webb, (D-VA), after decades of investigation and more than two years of intensive fact-finding in the U.S. Senate, on March 26, 2009, introduced the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009. This bipartisan legislation would create a blue-ribbon commission charged with conducting an 18-month, top-to-bottom review of the nation?s entire criminal justice system and offering concrete recommendations for reform. The bill has a number of bipartisan cosponsors, including high-ranking Republican members of the Judiciary Committee. The bill has also received initial support from the White House, the Department of Justice, and numerous criminal justice organizations.

The National Criminal Justice Commission 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. Commissioners will be tasked with proposing tangible, wide-ranging reforms, including reducing crime and the overall incarceration rate; improving federal and local responses to international and domestic gang violence; restructuring our approach to drug policy; improving the treatment of mental illness; improving prison administration; and establishing a system for reintegrating ex-offenders.

In a recent statement to John Bradley, Managing Director of Justice On Trial, Senator Webb said of this legislation, ?? we [are working] to provide much-needed reform to our nation?s broken criminal justice system.?

For materials relevant to the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009, please visit: http://webb.senate.gov/email/criminaljusticereform.html