U.S. House Unanimously Passes Legislation Creating National Commission to Reduce Incarceration and Reform the Criminal Justice System
Commission Would Likely Analyze Over-Incarceration, Failed Drug War Policies, Racial Disparities, and More
The U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation tonight sponsored by Rep. William Delahunt (D-MA) which would create a national commission to study the U.S. criminal justice system and make recommendations for reform. The bill passed under an expedited process that presumes unanimity unless a member of Congress objects. No member objected.
“It is a sign of how quickly the tide has turned against punitive criminal justice policies that this bill passed without opposition,” said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. “Prisons are overflowing at great taxpayer expense, in large part because of the failed war on drugs, and members of Congress are finally saying enough is enough, we need ideas for reform.”
The House bill is identical to a bill in the U.S. Senate introduced by Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA). That bill has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and will most likely be voted on in the full Senate sometime this year. Sen. Webb (D-VA) has said, “either we have the most evil people in the world or we are doing something wrong with the way we approach the issue of criminal justice.” And “the central role of drug policy in filling our nation's prisons makes clear that our approach to curbing illegal drug use is broken.”
It is widely believed that the national commission created by Sen. Webb’s and Rep. Delahunt’s legislation would make recommendations for reducing incarceration, reforming U.S. drug policy, eliminating racial and gender disparities, improving re-entry efforts, and expanding access to substance abuse treatment, mental health services and health care.
“The House has spoken decisively. Now it is time for Senators to act,” Piper said. “Sen. Webb’s and Rep. Delahunt’s bipartisan commission legislation needs to be passed quickly before the war on drugs and punitive criminal justice system bankrupt our country and destroy more lives.”
http://newslanc.com/2010/07/27/u-s-hous ... ce-system/
Unanimous Consent - Failed Drug War Policies
Unanimous Consent - Failed Drug War Policies
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