Reform of New York State’s draconian Rockefeller-era drug laws fits in with with a wider national movement pushing for criminal justice reform. Why? As a nation, we currently incarcerate 1 in 100 Americans–a staggering 2.3 million people, a figure that is way out of line compared to other countries.
A decorated former Marine and Regan Administration official, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) is leading the charge in DC by introducing legislation for smarter, effective, and less-costly ways to deal with public safety:
“I feel very strongly about the need to put the right people behind bars. But we’re locking up the wrong people too often all across our country. Mental illness isn’t a crime. Addiction isn’t a crime. We need to make sharp distinctions between violent offenders and people who are incarcerated for non-violent crimes, drug abuse and mental illness.”
But remember that 90% of the U.S. prison population is locked up in state prisons. Just another reason why it’s so important that our state leadership address these inequities.
Hat Tip: Sara Haile
Glen Greenwald has a summary of why Webb’s move is so politically risky- there isn’t a political upside for being “pro-prison reform” and his move is even more striking since he doesn’t hold a “safe”seat. http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/03/28/webb/index.html
This is a great link, thanks SHM.
Add a Gravatar so people know what you look like, yo.