Tell the Senate to Support the Criminal Justice Commission

In the next 10 days, President Obama is expected to sign a bill into a law that, while not perfect, goes a long way to address one racist, counterproductive relic of a failed drug war.

I'm talking, of course, about the crack-cocaine sentencing disparity, which has long been one of the of our country's most egregiously unfair sentencing practices out there. But on Tuesday, advocates for change won a big criminal justice reform victory when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fair Sentencing Act. Actually, two victories. Not only did the House pass the Fair Sentencing Act — which reduces the disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine from 100:1 to 18:1 — it also passed the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, which will create a bipartisan commission to review the criminal justice system and recommend reforms to address existing injustices and inequalities.

Change.org community members have spoken up loud and clear in support of both bills, and your voices were heard. There's no doubt in my mind that the sustained advocacy from members of this site made a difference on each of these bills. Thanks to everyone who has taken action so far. Let's keep the pressure on.

Since the Senate has already passed the Fair Sentencing Act, the bill now heads to the Oval Office for Obama's signature.

However, the National Criminal Justice Commission still faces one last hurdle: the Senate.  Take 30 seconds now to tell your Senators urging to send this bill to Obama as well.

This commission, championed by Virginia Senator Jim Webb, will be a critical tool to bring about wide-ranging, bipartisan criminal justice reform. Readers of this site know that criminal justice reform is hard: politicians still use tough-on-crime rhetoric, while the public has little sympathy for invisible prisoners. This panel, though, has the potential to create a bipartisan body of evidence documenting what's wrong with the system. And fixes will follow.

You helped get the crack/powder bill passed. Raise your voice and urge the Senate to pass the criminal justice commission act today.

Photo Credit: Jose C Silva

Full disclosure: Although I work at the Innocence Project when I'm not blogging here, and the Innocence Project also supports passage of the Criminal Justice Commission, all views expressed in this space represent me alone.