Dear Friends of the Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative:

We are excited to pass along this action alert from a coalition of organizations we are a part of pushing for national criminal justice reform.  We are working on lots of important projects and will update you soon about our progress.  In the meantime, please take action today and tell Senate Leadership to pass the National Criminal Justice Commission Act!

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TODAY is National Call-In Day:  Tell Senate Leadership to pass the National Criminal Justice Commission Act!

BACKGROUND INFO:

In 2009, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) and 15 bipartisan cosponsors introduced the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, S. 714, legislation that would create a bipartisan Commission to review and identify effective criminal justice policies and make recommendations for reform.  The Senate Judiciary Committee has reviewed and favorably passed the bill and it is now awaiting passage out of the United States Senate.  Please help us urge Senate Leadership to prioritize and pass this important legislation as soon as possible!

ACTION NEEDED:

Please call the following Senators today to ask them to prioritize and support Senate passage of the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, S. 714, as soon as possible:

--Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), 202-224-3542

--Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), 202-224-3135

--Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL), 202-224-9447

MESSAGE:

I am calling to ask the Senator to prioritize and support immediate Senate passage of S. 714, the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, because:

--Having a transparent and bipartisan Commission review and identify effective criminal justice policies would increase public safety.

--The increase in incarceration over the past twenty years has stretched the system beyond its limits.  These high costs to taxpayers are unsustainable, especially during these times of economic downturn.

--The proposed commission would conduct a comprehensive national review - not audits of individual state systems - and would issue recommendations - not mandates - for consideration.


Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.  Thank you for making these important calls!