In recent years, there have been increasing calls for Congress to reform the criminal justice system. The House Judiciary Committee, which I chair, is undertaking an initiative to address a variety of criminal justice issues, including over-criminalization, sentencing reform, prison and reentry reform, protecting citizens through improved criminal procedures and policing strategies, and civil asset forfeiture reform. The Committee’s initiative will pursue responsible, common sense reforms to make sure our federal laws and regulations punish wrongdoers, protect individual freedom, work as efficiently and fairly as possible, do not duplicate state efforts, and do not waste taxpayer dollars.
Criminal justice is about punishing law-breakers, protecting the innocent, and the fair administration of justice. Those who commit violent crimes, like the young man who murdered nine innocent people last week in Charleston, must be brought to justice and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Congress has the responsibility to ensure that our criminal justice system delivers appropriate and effective justice.
This week, the Judiciary Committee will hear from any Member of the House of Representatives who has an idea to improve our nation’s criminal justice system.
The listening session will take place on Thursday, June 25, at 10AM, and can be viewed live online.
I look forward to identifying necessary improvements to the criminal justice system, and advancing strong, bipartisan solutions as a result of this initiative. We need a criminal justice system that best reflects core American values and works for America.
Bob Goodlatte represents Virginia’s Sixth District in Congress.
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