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James Webb on Crime
Democratic Sr Senator
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I risked political suicide for criminal justice reform
I have a long history of working with the situation of African Americans. I risked my political life raising the issue of criminal justice reform when I ran for the Senate in Virginia in 2006. I had political consultants telling me
I was committing political suicide. We led that issue in the congress. We started a national debate on it. And it wasn't until then that the Republican Party started joining in.
Source: 2015 CNN Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas
, Oct 13, 2015
Holistic plan to bring hardened criminals to justice
Despite burgeoning prisoner populations, our communities are not safer and we are still not bringing to justice many of the most hardened criminals who perpetuate violence and criminality as a way of life. It is in the interest of every American that
we thoroughly reexamine our entire criminal justice system. I am convinced that the most appropriate way to conduct this examination is through a Presidential commission, tasked to bring forth specific findings and recommendations for Congress to enact.
We need a holistic plan to identify and solve the entire range of problems plaguing our system, from point of apprehension to sentencing, prison administration, and reentry programs for those who wish to become full, participating members of our society.
We are putting too many of the wrong people in prison. This does not bring safety to our communities. While heavily focused on nonviolent offenders, law enforcement has been distracted from pursuing more serious and violent crimes.
Source: Brennan Center for Justice essays, p.118-9
, Apr 28, 2015
Independent commission: restructure criminal justice system
Only an independent, outside commission focusing on the larger national problem of mass incarceration can bring us complete findings necessary to restructure the criminal justice system. The commission would review all areas of federal and state criminal
justice practices and make specific findings, including an examination of:- The reasons for the increase in the US incarceration rate compared to historical standards.
- Incarceration and other policies in similar democratic, Western countries.
- Costs of current incarceration policies.
- The impact of gang activities.
- Drug policy and its impact on incarceration, crime, and sentencing.
- Policies as they relate to the mentally ill.
- The historical role
of the military in crime prevention and border security.
It is time to modify our criminal justice policies according to what is broken and what works. The creation of a National Criminal Justice Commission is still the best way to do this.
Source: Brennan Center for Justice essays, p.120
, Apr 28, 2015
Voted NO on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program.
Amendment would increase funding for the COPS Program to $1.15 billion for FY 2008 to provide state and local law enforcement with critical resources. The funding is offset by an unallocated reduction to non-defense discretionary spending.Proponents recommend voting YES because:
This amendment reinstates the COPS Program. I remind everyone, when the COPS Program was functioning, violent crime in America reduced 8.5% a year for 7 years in a row. Throughout the 1990s, we funded the COPS Program at roughly $1.2 billion, and it drove down crime. Now crime is rising again. The COPS Program in the crime bill worked, and the Government Accounting Office found a statistical link between the COPS grants and a reduction in crime.
The Brookings Institution reported the COPS Program is one of the most cost-effective programs we have ever had in this country. Local officials urgently need this support.
Opponents recommend voting NO because:
The COPS Program has some history. It was started by President Clinton. He asked for 100,000 police officers. He said that when we got to 100,000, the program would stop. We got to 110,000 police officers and the program continues on and on and on.
This program should have ended 5 years ago or 6 years ago, but it continues. It is similar to so many Federal programs that get constituencies that go on well past what their original purpose was. It may be well intentioned, but we cannot afford it and we shouldn't continue it. It was never thought it would be continued this long.
Reference: Biden Amendment;
Bill S.Amdt.529 on S.Con.Res.21
; vote number 2007-110
on Mar 23, 2007
Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance.
Webb co-sponsored reducing recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance
Recidivism Reduction and Second Chance Act of 2007- Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand provisions for adult and juvenile offender state and local reentry demonstration projects to provide expanded services to offenders and their families for reentry into society.
- Directs the Attorney General to award grants for:
- state and local reentry courts;
- Comprehensive and Continuous Offender Reentry Task Forces;
- pharmacological drug treatment services to incarcerated offenders;
- technology career training for offenders;
- mentoring services for reintegrating offenders into the community;
- pharmacological drug treatment services to incarcerated offenders;
- prison-based family treatment programs for incarcerated parents of minor children; and
- a study of parole or post-incarceration supervision violations and revocations.
Legislative Outcome: Became Public Law No: 110-199.
Source: Second Chance Act (S.1060/H.R.1593) 08-S1060 on Mar 29, 2007
Page last updated: Mar 24, 2016