Urge the Senate To Support The National Criminal Justice Commission

Please Support the National Criminal Justice Commission Act

Dear Senator,

I am writing to request immediate passage of the National Criminal Justice Commission Act (S. 714), originally co-sponsored by Senator Webb (D-VA).

The bill would create a commission to review all aspects of the criminal justice system and recommend bi-partisan, consensus-based reform. Our criminal justice system has serious flaws that must be fixed, and this commission provides a smart, bipartisan approach to examining these issues and recommending reform.

I urge you to support immediate passage of this bill and sign on as a co-sponsor. If you are already a supporter and co-sponsor, I ask that you work with your colleagues to prioritize swift passage of this important legislation.

Wrongful convictions are one of the many critical issues that this blue-ribbon panel could address. DNA testing has overturned more than 250 wrongful convictions nationwide, and I'm sure that there are more innocent people behind bars in the United States. A criminal justice commission could help identify why wrongful convictions happen and how they can be prevented. This is critical for ensuring public safety and confidence and preventing future wrongful convictions.

This legislation has garnered bipartisan support in Congress as well as from a range of interest groups representing law enforcement, academicians, crime victims and criminal justice reform advocates. Such a review is badly needed, as the nation has not taken such a comprehensive look at the criminal justice system since the Johnson Administration.

The commission would be comprised of highly respected figures and experts from throughout the justice system. Texas, California, Illinois, North Carolina, Wisconsin and other states have created
similar commissions that have led to concrete improvements in their state systems of justice. I urge you to take a leadership role in Congress to enact this legislation as soon as possible so that
comprehensive review of the nation's criminal justice system can begin in earnest.

[Your name]