Friday, March 27, 2009

U.S. holds 25% of world's prisoners. Sen. Webb: Overhaul Crim. Justice System



The unnecessary use of the death penalty in China - a more civil society in many ways than ours (they lack the 2d Amendment) distresses me. I want them to be better. But it doesn't matter as much to me as the sickening facts about ours. The waste of youth, the appalling statistics about more black men in jail than college, etc.

In Sunday's Parade magazine Senator Jim Webb (how lucky we are that this former Reagan Sec'y of the Navy joined us) is talking seriously and urgently about criminal justice:

"America's criminal justice system has deteriorated to the point that it is a national disgrace," said Senator Webb. "With five percent of the world's population, our country houses twenty-five percent of the world's prison population. Incarcerated drug offenders have soared 1200% since 1980. And four times as many mentally ill people are in prisons than in mental health hospitals. We should be devoting precious law enforcement capabilities toward making our communities safer. Our neighborhoods are at risk from gang violence, including transnational gang violence.

Webb continued: "There is great appreciation from most in this country that we are doing something drastically wrong. And, I am gratified that Senator Specter has joined me as the lead Republican cosponsor of this effort. We are committed to getting this legislation passed and enacted into law this year."

Here's the link to the information page about the measure The National Criminal Justice Act of 2009

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