WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and founder of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, expressed his frustration on the Senate’s failure to pass an amendment establishing the National Criminal Justice Commission, which would have created a blue-ribbon, bipartisan panel of experts charged with undertaking an 18-month top-to-bottom review of the nation’s criminal justice system and offering concrete recommendations for reform. Senator Coons is a cosponsor to the amendment, which fell just three votes shy of the 60-vote margin needed to proceed.
“I was, once again, deeply disappointed in the Senate’s inability to put politics aside and join together today to pass this important legislation for a thorough review of our nation’s criminal justice system,” Senator Coons said. “This long overdue commission would have made the public safer and our system more just by confronting ongoing problems and making better use of taxpayer dollars. Despite today’s vote, I remain committed to working with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to find solutions to improve our legal and criminal justice system.”
The Commission would have studied all areas of the criminal justice system including federal, state, local and tribal governments’ criminal justice costs, practices, and policies. After conducting the review, the Commission would have made recommendations for changes in, or continuation of oversight, policies, practices, and laws designed to prevent, deter, and reduce crime and violence, improve cost-effectiveness, and ensure the interests of justice.
The Commission would have had the opportunity to examine and develop recommendations addressing the broad range of new and emerging challenges that confront law enforcement today, from cyber-crime to non-traditional organized crime, from violent street gangs to homeland security. In addition, the Commission would have also reviewed the impact, difficulties and opportunities that are presented to the criminal justice community by technological innovations.
The Commission is broadly supported by law enforcement organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs Associations, International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People, and the American Bar Association.
Last week, Senator Coons inaugurated the first-ever bipartisan Senate Law Enforcement Caucus with co-chair, Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). The Caucus’ mission is to educate and inform members of the Senate and staff about the programs and initiatives that are keeping our communities safe, while advocating for the policies and resources law enforcement agencies need to carry out their missions.
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