Webb Senate bill seeks to shrink prison populations, 'overhaul drug criminalization'

[tekisui]

Source: The Raw Story

Proposed commission would seek to bring prison populations down, 'overhaul drug criminalization'

Even as President Barack Obama slapped down the hopes of American marijuana consumers as to his position on legalization, Senator Jim Webb (D-Va) was quietly preparing to introduce major legislation which has the potential to dramatically alter US drug laws.

Calling the US criminal justice system "a national disgrace," two US senators called for a top-to-bottom review with an eye on reforms aimed at reducing America's vast prison population.

Senator Webb, backed by Republican Senator Arlen Specter, introduced legislation to create a blue-ribbon panel that would conduct an 18-month assessment and offer concrete recommendations for reform.

Sen. Webb's legislation enjoys not just bipartisan support, but "quiet encouragement from President Barack Obama," reported The Virginian-Pilot.

"America's criminal justice system has deteriorated to the point that it is a national disgrace," Webb said, noting that the United States has five percent of the world's population but 25 percent of the world's prisoners.

According to a document released by Sen. Webb's office, "Its task will be to propose concrete, wide-ranging reforms to responsibly reduce the overall incarceration rate; improve federal and local responses to international and domestic gang violence; restructure our approach to drug policy; improve the treatment of mental illness; improve prison administration, and establish a system for reintegrating ex-offenders."

The Virginia lawmaker noted soaring numbers of drug offenders in prison, and charged that four times more mentally ill people are incarcerated than are in mental health hospitals.

"We are doing something drastically wrong," said Webb, whose plan also aims to improve the US response to armed gangs, especially drug-related groups, as it seeks to bring the prison population down from about 2.4 million people.

more: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Sens._Webb_Specter_Prison_system_national_0326.html

[pleah]

1. K&R

[ixion]

2. And in the 18 months they spend studying what is otherwise common sense

more than a million people will have their lives ruined by draconian drug laws.

Stop the BS, and end the so-called 'war' on drugs now.

[tekisui]

4. I don't think they would have the "political cover" without the study

and the bipartisan support. I would like to see it done yesterday, but Sen.Webb is a practical and effective legislator, he is probably doing it the only way he sees possible.

[ixion]

6. I understand...

it still frustrates me, though. :)

[tekisui]

7. It has frustrated me for about 10 years.

It has been that long since I learned how many lives are ruined in our "criminal justice system". I am right there with you.

[KittyWampus]

12. don't you think it's equal parts prisons-as-profitmakers to overzealous drug laws?

Wonder if there's a graph showing prison population and growth of privatized prisons.

[tekisui]

18. Yes, I think it is both, for sure.

[inna]

20. how in the world a prison can be "profitable"??

seems like it's fundamentally wrong to have prisons-for-profit; and i just don't understand how it is technically possible.

[Ezlivin]

21. Privately owned and operated prisons are spreading rapidly

And when you first hear about a privately owned prison it sounds like a good deal: The taxpayers will actually save money.

But the problem is that any private corporation seeks to do two things: Increase profits and grow the business. Naturally if you're running a prison you want a steady and increasing stream of prisoners (so that you can employ them at slave wages and unfairly compete against other businesses) and you want to build more prisons. If recidivism suddenly plummeted and crime rates dropped, you'd see these private prison owners lobbying for tougher laws so as to again increase the incarceration rates.

[Lucky Luciano]

28. Look up stock ticker CXW - Corrections Corp. nt

[blogslut]

3. Damned skippy

Maybe we can finally bring back the concept of rehabilitating offenders instead of the inhuman high-volume, profit-based criminal justice system we 're currently under..

[midnight]

5. Well said.

four times more mentally ill people are incarcerated than are in mental health hospitals. What on earth are we doing putting mentally ill people in prison? Will they receive treatment there? I thought the mentally ill went to mental health hospitals?

[Dawgs]

8. "Even as President Barack Obama slapped down the hopes of American marijuana consumers"

That's bullshit. Most people that want marijuana decriminalized are most likely not consumers; like me.

[BanzaiBonnie]

9. Reform is urgent and long overdue

I hope no one misses this news. Of course the prison industrial complex will throw a fit. Prisons for profit are a bad idea.

[Captain Hilts]

10. And having a former Reagan Admin official do it will make people listen. nt

[Trajan]

11. Certainly along the lines of what DUers have been saying for years ....

FINALLY: Wisdom is seeping into the hallowed halls of congress ....

I hope they can come to realize what many have: COMPLETE decriminalization is the only real answer, with some sort of sales system that removes the influence of criminal gangs from the process ....

Empty the prisons of potheads ? ...... FUCK YES !

Make room in prisons for REAL criminals who commit REAL violence and hurt ? .... FUCK YES ! ...

Senators Webb and Specter ? .... THANK YOU !

[Qutzupalotl]

13. K&R

[cbc5g]

14. Senator Webb was the best thing to happen to Virginian politics

He truly is a champion for the people.

[The River]

15. Agreed

I was glad to be able to vote for him.
Will again.
Warner on OTOH is becoming a disappointment.

[AzDar]

16. K & fookin' R

:kick:

[No.23]

17. I love you, Senator Webb, for doing this.

There aren't too many other issues that require our immediate and urgent attention than this one.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

[inna]

19. KR! a piece of good news, finally! NT

[ms liberty]

22. K&R n/t

[usregimechange]

23. I don't support legalization but reform is vital

[nikto]

24. UH OH...

The Pri$on Lobby will not be happy. :mad:
:puke:

[beac]

25. Wild times here in VA. The former Reagan official is turning out to be one HELL

of a great Democrat and the former Democratic governor is a turncoat hell of a disappointment.

Bravo, Senator Webb!

[Oldenuff]

26. K & R nt for now

[Bluenorthwest]

27. I would like to salute Senator Webb

For treating a serious issue with the respect it is due. Incarceration of the mentally ill, how is that a joking matter?
I wonder if President Obama knows the stats for minority arrests and jailings for marijuana compared to white people. 4x greater in NYC, to cite one stat. Why would he make a joke about such a situation?
At least Webb has a clue. He's not laughing at injustice and insanity and the waste of lives and billions of dollars. That is a huge plus.

[Hekate]

29. The more I see of Sen. Webb, the more I like and respect him. nt