In 2009, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) and 15 Republican and Democratic cosponsors introduced the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, legislation that would create a bipartisan Commission to review and identify effective criminal justice policies and make recommendations for reform. The House of Representatives and the Senate Judiciary Committee have passed the bill, which now has 39 Senate cosponsors, but the bill still awaits final passage during these last few weeks of the Congressional session. If NCJC doesn't pass this year, it will all have to be done over again in 2011.

Please call the following Senators to ask them to prioritize and support Senate passage of the NCJC Act, H.R. 5143 and S. 714, this year:

• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), 202-224-3542
• Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), 202-224-3135
• the two US Senators from your state -- call (202) 224-3121 or click here to look them up.

The following is a message for your call to the Senators' offices:

I am calling to ask the Senator to prioritize and support immediate Senate passage of the House-passed National Criminal Justice Commission Act, H.R. 5143/S. 714, because:

• Having a transparent and bipartisan Commission review and identify effective criminal justice policies would increase public safety.
• The increase in incarceration over the past twenty years has stretched the system beyond its limits. These high costs to taxpayers are unsustainable, especially during these tough economic times.
• The proposed commission would conduct a comprehensive national review -- not audits of individual state systems -- and would issue recommendations -- not mandates -- for consideration.

Write back if you have any questions, and please let us know if you learn anything about your Senator's intentions from your phone call. Thank you for taking action.