U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is continuing to back an effort to create a National Criminal Justice Commission.
This week, Rubio announced his support for U.S. Sen. Gary Peters’, D-Mich., “National Criminal Justice Commission Act” which would “task a National Criminal Justice Commission to assess the nation’s criminal justice system and propose reforms to address the most pressing issues facing it.” Rubio has backed similar legislation on Capitol Hill over the past four years, so it’s no surprise that he cosponsored Peters’ bill.
A host of senators from both sides of the aisle including U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, John Cornyn, R-Tex., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., are also backing the proposal.
The bill would create a 14 member “National Criminal Justice Commission charged with completing an 18-month, comprehensive review of the national criminal justice system, including federal, state, local, and tribal criminal justice systems, and issuing recommendations for changes in oversight, policies, practices, and laws to reduce crime, increase public safety, and promote confidence in the criminal justice system.”
The White House and congressional leaders would make appointments to the commission. If the bill passes, it will be the largest comprehensive review of the criminal justice system from the federal government since 1965 when President Lyndon Johnson created the Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
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