National Criminal Justice Commission - Nov. 16 Senate Call-in Day

Nov. 16, 2010 — Advocates across the United States are calling leaders in the U.S. Senate today, urging them to call S. 714, the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, for a vote before the 2010 session ends. Below is a suggested message urging Senate leaders to prioritize and support this bill:

I am calling to ask the Senator to prioritize and support immediate Senate passage of H.R. 5143/S. 714, the House-passed National Criminal Justice Commission Act, because:

* A commission could help increase public safety and prevent wrongful convictions  by examining what causes   people to be convicted of crimes they didn’t commit and   and recommending improvements that would help prevent these  miscarriages of justice.

* 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 tough economic times.

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