Obama giving 'quiet encouragement' for Sen. Webbs prison/drug sentencing reform campaign

[cbc5g]

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/03/webb-takes-next-challenge-nations-prison-system


Alarmed by prisons that are clogged with mentally ill people, drug users and other non-violent offenders while well-armed gangs and drug lords often go unpunished, Virginia Sen. Jim Webb will launch a wide-ranging and politically risky campaign today to overhaul the nation's criminal justice system.

With nearly 2.4 million Americans now behind bars, Webb said, "our incarceration rate has exploded.... But at the same time we aren't really solving the problems."

With backing from senior Democratic senators and quiet encouragement from President Barack Obama, Webb will introduce legislation to create a bipartisan commission on criminal justice reform.

-----------------

Webb has briefed Obama's staff on the plan and discussed it with the president earlier this week. He has secured pledges of support from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Democratic whip Dick Durbin of Illinois and expressions of interest from prominent Republicans, including Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the ranking GOP member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

[kristopher]

1. I think this is the reason Obama addressed the marijuana issue as he did.

He said that legalization for economic reasons is a bad idea. He said nothing about decriminalization simply because it is the best overall policy. This 18 month "review" may go the way of a couple others before, but I believe it has a good chance of being the foundation for changing our draconian approach to drugs because it is focused more broadly on the entire conceptual underpinnings of our criminal justice system.

[yowzayowzayowza]

6. Precisely.

The Prez cannot be out front on this one. His comment was certainly not a complete denial of the possibility of change.

[jaysunb]

11. Bingo

That's exactly the way it should be: let those of like mind and in position to creat new laws carry the ball knowing it will be supported and signed by the Exec. He doesn't have to take the heat from the opposition and looks good to the rest for his good sense. It's a win/win.

[ellacott]

2. I'm so glad we have an adult in the office

One that can think long range instead of responding to knee jerk reactions.

I would love to sit down and play chess with him.

[HopeOverFear]

3. kick and rec'd

[Kdillard]

4. Another kick for the adults being in charge.

[yowzayowzayowza]

5. Delete.

Wrong spot.

[Hippo_Tron]

7. Just an IMO, this is precisely why moderate dems are better than Republicans

Yes it is frustrating when moderate Dems like Webb do vote with the other side, sometimes. But never in a million years would you see a Republican leading the charge on an issue like this.

[ohheckyeah]

8. I wrote Webb a letter

commending him and voicing some of my concerns.

[FrenchieCat]

9. Let's see how much attention this gets.....

I'm guessing...not as much.

That's why I advocate patience...but of course, that just makes me a cheerleader
and everyone who is voicing critique at every turn is just plain awesome! :shrug:

[Danascot]

10. Progress in New York State

New York eases 1970s drug laws

New York state officials agreed on Friday to relax harsh 1970s drug laws that required prison sentences for nonviolent drug crimes in favor of laws that will let judges send addicts to treatment programs.

The new regulations will save the state about "a quarter of a billion dollars" a year in costs for housing prisoners, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith said at a news conference in Albany, the state capital.

The existing laws -- known as the Rockefeller drug laws for Republican Governor Nelson Rockefeller who in 1973 said they were needed to fight a heroin epidemic -- were considered among the nation's stiffest because they required prison terms for offenders and gave judges no discretion in sentencing.

They had been the target of Democrats for years but previous legislative efforts had produced only limited softening.

A joint release from Paterson, the state Senate and Assembly said the agreement eliminates mandatory prison sentences for many first- and second-time offenders and makes them eligible for probation that could include drug treatment.

<snip>

The Drug Policy Alliance, which has long campaigned against the state's tough drug laws, said New York's prisons hold approximately 12,000 drug offenders, representing nearly 21 percent of the prison population and costing New Yorkers hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE52Q5XM20090327

[usregimechange]

12. K/R

[Hekate]

13. Why does this NOT surprise me? I think Obama and Webb are on the same page with this issue. nt

[grillo7]

14. It's a good idea

I'm really tired of seeing violent offenders get a slap on the wrist while someone who smoked a joint is locked up. I'm not in favor of full decriminalization, but we certainly need to get our priorities straight.

[FrenchieCat]

15. Yes......Marijuana possession should receive nothing more than a citation

if that, if you ask me.

Underage possession should require parents being called, and education classes offered.

[ZombieHorde]

16. Interesting. Kick for more views. nt

[DCKit]

17. After two bouts with cancer and chemo, you've got to wonder if Arlen Specter has some experience...

with medical marijuana.

The last statistic I heard was 850K non-violent drug offenders in prison (and probably 2x or 3x more in the "system"). Because of draconian drug sentencing laws, we're locking up and keeping all the wrong people behind bars.

After decades of being forced to release violent criminals due to overcrowding, CA (of all states :sarcasm:) is poised to overhaul their system and begin releasing non-violent prisoners under mandatory sentences in order to make room for truly bad people.

35 years is long enough to wait for sanity to return to the discussion.

[HopeOverFear]

18. kick and rec'd

well not rec'd but kicked again.