ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û

When Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced S. 306, (NCJCA) this past Tuesday, he took the time to give a in support this important piece of legislation. This bill will create a bipartisan commission to study the United States’ broken and dysfunctional criminal justice system and offer concrete recommendations to alleviate imbalances and injustices. The NCJCA is currently supported by 20 senators, including Judiciary Committee members Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Al Franken (D-MN), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

The ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û supported the during the 111th Congress, which successfully . The bill was also approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee but was never brought to the Senate Floor.

Passing the NCJCA remains a priority for the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û in the 112th Congress, and – as always – we will continue advocating for the need to review and reform our badly broken criminal justice system. Today, there are over 2.3 million men and women in prisons throughout the US, which incarcerates a higher share of its population than any other country in the world. Despite this , more than half of all people released from prison re-enter the system within three years. In other words, the current system over-incarcerates and has a devastating impact on the individuals, families, and communities that find themselves entangled in our justice system (and disproportionately impacts ).

Reform of the criminal justice system isn’t something that only those on the political left support – even are coming around to the fact that , and the NCJCA provides the ideal opportunity to begin doing so in a . We’ll be working with both the House and Senate to pass this important piece of legislation, which will help ensure that our criminal justice system keeps communities safe, operates fairly, and is cost effective.