During his tenure in Congress, Sen. Jim Webb (D) has been an advocate for reforming the criminal justice system. In 2009, Webb sponsored a bill (The National Criminal Justice Commission Act) that would have established a congressional commission to examine practices and policies of the criminal justice system, and to propose changes. The senator has also spoken publicly about the need to improve reentry opportunities for prisoners upon their release from incarceration.
In a recent opinion piece, Webb continues the discussion. Arguing against a culture of mass incarceration, the senator argues that it is imperative to develop a policy that is fairer, more effective, and cost efficient:
The disintegration of our criminal justice system, day by day and year by year, and the movement toward mass incarceration – with very little attention being paid to clear standards of prison administration or meaningful avenues of reentry for those who have served their time – are dramatically affecting millions of lives. They are draining billions of dollars from our economy, destroying notions of neighborhood and family in hundreds of communities across the country, and – most importantly – not making our country a safer or a fairer place.
There are definitely conversations to be had about how such a policy would look, and what it would take to implement it, but the conversation is one worth having.
Justice Fellowship, the policy arm of Prison Fellowship®, seeks to foster this discussion, and to bring about meaningful reforms. To learn more about the work of Justice Fellowship, or to get involved in bringing about reforms in your state, click here.