Nation’s Mayors Urge Passage of Webb’s Landmark Criminal Justice Bill

My only question: why in bloody h*** has this bill not been passed by Congress and signed into law already? As in, how about a couple years ago? I mean, is there anything particularly controversial or radical about this legislation? As the unanimous support from the bipartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors indicates, the answer to that is a resounding N-O!

In fact, as Jim Webb’s press release notes, “The National Criminal Justice Commission Act is also supported by more than 100 organizations from across the philosophical spectrum, including the National Sheriff’s Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Sentencing Project, the NAACP, the ACLU and Prison Fellowship.” Message to the Senate: get this thing done already, our nation faces a crisis in its criminal “justice” (using the term loosely, because a lot of it’s actually injustice) system that’s long overdue for a major overhaul.

Nation’s Mayors Urge Passage of Webb’s Landmark Criminal Justice Bill

National Criminal Justice Commission Act receives unanimous support of bipartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors

Washington, D.C.- Senator Jim Webb’s (D-VA) campaign to secure passage of his National Criminal Justice Commission Act received a major boost this week with unanimous backing of the United States Conference of Mayors.   In their resolution, the organization “affirms its support for the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2011” and “calls upon the United States Congress” to enact the bill before the conclusion of the 112th Congress.

“Such overwhelming support from our nation’s mayors is a major step forward in securing passage of this vital legislation,” said Senator Webb. “Since first introducing this bill in 2009, my office has worked tirelessly to build the case for reform with state and local leaders from across the political spectrum.”  

“This endorsement from the bipartisan United States Conference of Mayors should be clear evidence of the crucial need for swift reform of America’s criminal justice system.”

The National Criminal Justice Commission Act is also supported by more than 100 organizations from across the philosophical spectrum, including the National Sheriff’s Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Sentencing Project, the NAACP, the ACLU and Prison Fellowship.

The National Criminal Justice Commission Act would create a blue-ribbon, bipartisan commission of experts charged with undertaking an 18-month top-to-bottom review of the nation’s criminal justice system and offering concrete recommendations for reform.  It was first introduced March 26, 2009, and was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 21, 2010, with 39 bipartisan cosponsors. On July 28, 2010, it passed the U.S. House of Representatives, with the support of Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA) and Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), now Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Despite strong bipartisan support, the bill was blocked in the Senate last year. Senator Webb reintroduced the legislation on February 8, 2011.

More information about the bill is available here: http://www.webb.senate.gov/iss…