In proposing the legislation, Webb noted the vast over-representation of African-Americans in the nation’s prisons. While African-Americans are 12 percent of the U.S. population, they represent 37 percent of those arrested for drugs, 54 percent of those with convictions and 74 percent of those sentenced for drug offenses. In some cases, the issue may be securing appropriate legal representation, Webb said.
He also said it is appropriate to discuss fairness issues, particularly the rationale behind long prison terms many face for nonviolent offenses. While violent crime is down 32 percent since 1989, the prison population has “skyrocketed,” he said. In 1980, the U.S. had 41,000 drug offenders in prison; the number of such offenders in prison is now 500,000.
Among other issues, the commission would address topics such as gang violence, resources needed to fight violent crime, strategies to reduce incarceration, the administration of prisons and new or improved systems to integrate ex-offenders into society.
