The New York Times urges the U.S. Senate to pass Jim Webb's National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009. The commission would study "why the United States has the highest reported incarceration rate in the world," as well as "sentencing policies for drug crimes, including their impact on minority communities" and other issues related to this country's dysfunctional criminal justice system. The Times writes that the legislation "has strong support from both civil rights and law enforcement groups" and urges the Senate leadership "to push it to a vote." I couldn't agree more; what on earth is the Senate waiting for on this important issue?P.S. Great leadership by Jim Webb on this issue!
