U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Also Schedules Markup of National Criminal Justice Commission Act

On December 3, 2009, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to mark-up S. 714, the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009. Originally sponsored by Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Arlen Specter (D-PA), S. 714 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.

According to S. 714, the 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. It will be led by a chairperson to be appointed by the President. The Majority and Minority Leaders in the House and Senate, and the Democratic and Republican Governors Associations will appoint the remaining members of the commission.

Among other things, S. 714 charges the Commission to review and make findings comparing U.S. “incarceration policies, including juvenile incarceration policies, to those of countries with similar political systems including Western Europe and Japan, denoting the different standards applied for types of crime, length of sentences, standards of prison administration, quality of reentry programs for ex-offenders, and recidivism rates” (emphasis added).

Since its introduction, S. 714 has garnered 35 bi-partisan sponsors. Click here to learn more about the bill.

Click here to view a copy of the bill in its entirety.