Support Comprehensive Review of the Criminal Justice System Prioritize the National Criminal Justice Commission Act – S. 306

Recipient: U.S. Senate

Dear Senator:  

On behalf of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its  diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of  all persons in the United States, we urge you to support passage of the “National Criminal  Justice Commission Act of 2011” (S. 306). This bill, which has bipartisan support, would  establish an independent national commission charged with conducting a thorough evaluation of  the nation’s criminal justice system and offering recommendations for cost-effective reforms.  Having a transparent and bipartisan Commission develop a research-based strategy will restore  public confidence in the criminal justice system and increase our collective safety.  

The need for comprehensive review of our criminal justice system is undeniable. At every stage  of the process, there are serious problems that undermine basic tenets of equality and fairness.  The United States has the highest reported incarceration rate in the world, imprisoning a higher  percentage of its population than any other country, yielding a total of 2.3 million individuals in  prison. Minorities make up a disproportionately large share of prison populations. Black males  have a 32 percent chance of serving time in prison at some point in their lives; Hispanic males  have a 17 percent chance; while white males have a 6 percent chance. These racial disparities  call into question the practices utilized by law enforcement and the judicial system, and have  had an overwhelming impact on minority communities.  

The high costs of incarceration are unsustainable during these times of economic uncertainty as  well as in the long term. Over the past two decades, state spending on corrections increased 127  percent. The investment in enforcement, prosecution, and incarceration in cases of low-level  offenses has resulted in strained resources at all levels of government.  

Passage of this important piece of legislation is a first step in developing cost-effective and  evidence-based solutions to improve our criminal justice system. We urge you to encourage  the leadership in your party to prioritize passage of S. 306. Thank you for your consideration of this critical issue.

Sincerely,

Wade Henderson
President & CEO

Nancy Zirkin
Executive Vice President