Coalition Releases Criminal Justice Policy Roadmap

For Immediate Release

Contact
Daniel Schuman: 202–580–6922
dschuman@constitutionproject.org

D.C. – A coalition of more than 20 organizations, including the Brennan Center for Justice, and individuals is pleased to announce the publication of a catalogue of key criminal justice issues and policy recommendations for the next administration and congress.

Virginia Sloan, President of the Constitution Project, which coordinated the coalition’s efforts, said: “Smart on Crime: Recommendations for the Next Administration and Congress reflects the ongoing, collaborative efforts of a coalition of more than twenty leading organizations and individuals to provide policymakers with a framework for addressing criminal justice issues. The catalogue includes recommendations drawn from the shared knowledge and experience of a broad coalition of groups devoted to improving our criminal justice system.”

The catalogue identifies 43 criminal justice priorities in 15 issue areas, makes recommendations for congressional and executive action, and provides in-depth background information on a broad array of subjects. It also includes lists of issue-based resources and experts.

The catalogue is available online at www.2009transition.org/criminaljustice.

For policy questions, please contact the individuals or organizations identified in the catalogue as experts. Please direct general questions to Daniel Schuman at the Constitution Project.

A list of authors, contributors, and consultants is available here. Many additional organizations from across the political spectrum have signed on to specific recommendations. Please consult the appropriate chapter to see a list of supporters.

The report contains the following chapters:

1. Overcriminalization of Conduct, Overfederalization of Criminal Law, and the Exercise of Enforcement Discretion
2. Federal Law Enforcement Reform—Improve Investigative Techniques, Including Eyewitness Identification, Incentives to Testify, and Interrogation
3. Forensic Science Reform-Federal Oversight and Standards
4. Federal Grand Jury Reform
5. Federal Sentencing Reform
6. Asset Forfeiture Reform
7. Innocence Issues
8. Prison Reform
9. Pardon Power/Executive Clemency—Breathe New Life into the Pardon Power
10. Re-entry-Ensure Successful Reintegration After Incarceration
11. Public Defense Reforms—Make our Communities Safer by Supporting Quality Public Defense System
12. Death Penalty/Habeas Corpus Reform
13. Juvenile Justice Reforms
14. Fixing Medellin: Compliance with International Law and Protecting Consular Access
15. Victim Issues and Restorative Justice

The Constitution Project is a politically independent think tank established in 1997 to promote and defend the fundamental tenets of our nation’s founding document. More information about the Constitution Project is available at http://constitutionproject.org/.

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