Congress: House Passes National Criminal Justice Commission Act

[whatsgood]

 

Taken from http://networkedblogs.com/6l4Er by NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)

On Tuesday, Congressional Representatives passed by voice vote H.R. 5143, the House version of the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2010.

NORML first blogged about this federal legislation back in November, and encouraged supporters to contact their members of Congress in favor of this much-needed reform. This week the House did their part. Now it is up to the Senate to do theirs.

Said the measure’s House sponsor, Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA). “Today our prison population is expanding at an alarming rate, with costs to the taxpayers that are unsustainable. … (This) bill passed … will assess the current crisis, reverse these disturbing trends and help save taxpayer money.”

House Bill 5143 is a companion bill to S. 714, championed by Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA). Senate Bill 714 will establish a `National Criminal Justice Commission’ to hold public hearings and “undertake a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system, including Federal, State, local, and tribal governments’ criminal justice costs, practices, and policies. … The Commission shall 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.”

In January, members of the Senate Judiciary passed S. 714. The measure awaits action by the full Senate. Hopefully, this week’s House vote will spur the Senate into action.

It’s been many years since a federally appointed commission has taken an objective look at American criminal justice policies, and it’s been nearly 40 years since federal lawmakers have undertaken a critical examination of U.S. drug policy. Sen. Webb articulately explains why this examination is long overdue.

“America’s criminal justice system has deteriorated to the point that it is a national disgrace. … The United States has by far the world’s highest incarceration rate. With 5% of the world’s population, our country now houses nearly 25% of the world’s reported prisoners.

… Drug offenders, most of them passive users or minor dealers, are swamping our prisons. … Justice statistics also show that 47.5% of all the drug arrests in our country in 2007 were for marijuana offenses. Additionally, nearly 60% of the people in state prisons serving time for a drug offense had no history of violence or of any significant selling activity. … African-Americans — who make up about 12% of the total U.S. population population — accounted for 37% of those arrested on drug charges, 59% of those convicted, and 74% of all drug offenders sentenced to prison.

… It is incumbent on our national leadership to find a way to fix our prison system.”

NORML supporters can play a role in this ‘fix’ by contacting their U.S. Senators and urging them to support Senate Bill 714, The National Criminal Justice Commission Act.

[hacheech]

 

now if the senate passes it we have to hope they use science and common sense this time.

[i like weed]

 

we'll see if anything actually passes and gets implemented, but clearly they need to change A LOT.

for example, in some states, if you sell 100 prescription pills, you're facing a 15-30 year sentence, 15 mandatory minimum. Because a couple people would be high on that shit a few times... oh noes

meanwhile, a child rapist will get a plea deal to 11 years, and then is let go after 6 since the prison is overcrowded with pot growers and street dealers. Rapist walks free, rapes and murders again. dealer rots there for 9 more years.

As far as I can tell, government exists for three reasons: 1) foreign relations and national defense. 2) to regulate industry and keep the environment from going to shit. 3) to keep rapists/murderers/thieves away from the rest of us. They are doing a pretty lousy job at that!

But how in the hell do drugs fit into that picture, nobody is forcing anybody to do anything. It's a matter of personal choice, and if you start stealing and shit to support your crack habit, then you should be charged with stealing and dealt with accordingly. Personal responsibility vs nanny state

And, the failure to completely legalize weed immediately is even more bullshit.

[whatsgood]

 

saw this video on Marc Emery's facebook blog, extremely simple to get across an obvious point

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMM_T...eature=channel