Jim Webb Wants a Decarceration Plan for America
By Tom Murlowski
Senator
Jim Webb (D-VA): decorated war hero, journalist, screenwriter,
Assistant Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Navy in the
Reagan Administration. He was on the short list for President
Barack Obama's vice-presidential pick. Webb currently serves
on the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations, Armed Services,
Veterans' Affairs, and the Joint Economic Committee.
But now meet Senator Webb as Prison Reformer.
Webb is one of very few leaders on Capitol
Hill actively trying to reform drug and prison policies that
have made the United States the World's leading Jailer. In October
2008, Webb and the Administration of Justice Department of George
Mason University hosted a symposium entitled "Drugs in
America: Trafficking, Policy and Sentencing." Moderated
by Sen. Webb, the three panels of experts examined drug distribution
in the U.S; law enforcement practices; and punitive vs. public
health responses to drug abuse.
Webb aims much of his criticism at enforcement
efforts that too often target low-level drug offenders and parole
violators, rather than those who perpetrate violence. He also
blames policies that strip felons of citizenship rights and hinder
their chances of finding a job after release. He insists that
our communities can be made safer while making the system more
humane AND cost-effective.
In his recently-released book, A Time
to Fight, Webb wrote: "Either we are home to the most
evil population on earth, or we are locking up a lot of people
who really don't need to be in jail, for actions that other countries
seem to handle in more constructive ways." In his role as
ranking member of the Senate Joint Economic Committee, Webb has
twice convened hearings on mass incarceration in America.
"Over the course of the period from
the mid-1970's until today, the United States has embarked on
one of the largest public policy experiments in our history.
Yet this experiment remains shockingly absent from public debate:
the United States now imprisons a higher percentage of its citizens
than any other country in the world.
"With the world's largest prison population,
our prisons test the limits of our democracy and push the boundaries
of our moral identity". -- Sen. Jim Webb, speaking at the
Senate Joint Economic Committee Hearing on Mass Incarceration,
Fall 2007
"America is locking up people at astonishing
rates. In the name of 'getting tough on crime,' there are now
2.2 million Americans in federal, state, and local prisons and
jails and over 7 million under some form of correction supervision,
including probation and parole. We have the largest prison population
in the world. This growth is not a response to increasing crime
rates, but a reliance on prisons and long mandatory sentences
as the common response to crime. It is time for America's leadership
to realize what the public understands -- our approach is costly,
unfair and impractical." -- Sen. Jim Webb, in a FAMM press
release.
From Sen. Webb's website (www.webb.senate.gov): "I am committed
to initiating a serious dialogue and raising public awareness
about the U.S. criminal justice system and incarceration policies.
Over the past two years, I have held a number of Senate hearings,
hosted a symposium of experts at George Mason University and
delivered the keynote address for a Brookings Institute panel
at the National Press Club on this pressing issue.
"This year I plan to introduce legislation
to launch a comprehensive review of our criminal justice system.
It is imperative that a national commission take an overarching
look at where the system is broken and how we fix it. To start,
focus must be placed on locking up the most dangerous people
instead of diverting time and money to incarcerate the wrong
people. This means making sharp distinctions between offenders
of violent crimes and those incarcerated for non-violent crimes,
drug abuse and mental illness.
"This challenge of criminal justice
reform demands dedicated attention and viable solutions."
Webb makes his points well, of course,
and may be uniquely suited to lead the charge in Washington for
radical sentencing reform. As a staunch supporter of the military,
and former war hero, it's difficult to label him as 'soft' on
anything.
You can learn how to help support his efforts
by contacting him at: Sen. Jim Webb, 144 Russell Senate Office
Building, Washington, DC 20510, 866-507-1570
Sources: New York Times, Washington
Post, Drug War Chronicle
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