A bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill that would create a commission to review the various criminal justice systems in the United States.
The proposed National Criminal Justice Commission would issue recommendations for federal, state, local and tribal criminal justice systems for changes varying from policies and practices to laws to reduce crime.
The legislation — dubbed the National Criminal Justice Act Commission of 2017 — is led by Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and John Cornyn, R-Texas. The bill has an additional 17 cosponsors, both Republican and Democrat.
“[T]oo many Americans see growing challenges in our justice system ranging from unburdened courts and unsustainable incarceration costs to strained relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” said Peters in a statement. He said the commission will help “reduce crime, improve public safety and promote more equitable justice practices.”
According to a press release, the National Criminal Justice Commission would be charged with completing an 18-month comprehensive review of the U.S. criminal justice system from top to bottom.
Made up of both presidential and congressional appointees, it would push to find ways to reduce crime, incarceration and prisoner re-entry.
The last comprehensive review of the nation’s criminal justice system was in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson.
One of the biggest complaints of America’s criminal justice system is the sheer number of people incarcerated. The U.S. has the highest prison population rate in the world, at more than 700 per 100,000 people.
