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Senate Judiciary Committee Passes National Criminal Justice Commission Act
On January 21, 2010, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved S. 714, the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 as amended. Introduced by Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), S. 714 will create a blue-ribbon commission charged to undertake an 18-month “comprehensive review of all areas of the criminal justice system, including Federal, State, local, and tribal governments’ criminal justice costs, practices, and policies.”
The Commission’s work will likely include a review of the nation’s practice of trying, sentencing and incarcerating youth under the age of 18 as adults, although S. 714 specifically provides that the Commission’s “recommendations shall not infringe on the legitimate rights of the States to determine their own criminal laws or the enforcement of such laws.” An examination of sentencing disparities will likely be included.
At the end of its review, the Commission will “make findings regarding such review and recommendations for changes in oversight, policies, practices, and laws designed to prevent, deter, and reduce crime and violence, improve cost-effectiveness, and ensure the interests of justice at every step of the criminal justice system.”
The bill now moves to the Senate floor for final approval. As of the writing of this column, a copy of the bill as amended by the Senate Judiciary Committee was not available. To view the bill as introduced, click here.
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