Drug War Chronicle: “The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-VA) National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 on a unanimous voice vote Thursday. The bill would create a commission to conduct a top-to-bottom evaluation of the country’s criminal justice system and offer recommendations for reform at every level.
“Webb has been a harsh critic of national drug policies, and has led at least two hearings on the costs associated with current policies. The bill could create an opportunity to shine a harsh light on the negative consequences of the current policies….
“An amendment offered by Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and accepted by the committee stripped out the original bill’s lengthy list of negative drug policy “findings” and replaced them with blander language, but left the bill’s purpose intact.”…
“The bill’s prospects are uncertain. It faces a crowded calendar in the Senate and has made little progress in the House.”
