Doug Berman posts from a press release reflecting the combined wisdom of 25 organizations and individuals, under the umbrella of the Constitution Project, a report entitled “‘Smart on Crime: Recommendations for the Next Administration and Congress.”  It seeks to provide a cogent list of criminal justice initiatives that should make it onto the agenda of the new administration.

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 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

At 263 pages, this seems like a criminal justice policy wonk’s dream, but somewhat overbearing for those of us who work for a living.  Still, this is all about policy, and if there was ever a place to get into the nitty-gritty in extreme detail, this would be it. 

After the 2008 elections, America’s policymakers will take a fresh look at the criminal justice system, which so desperately needs their attention. To assist with that review, leaders and experts from all aspects of the criminal justice community spent months collaboratively identifying key issues and gathering policy advice into one comprehensive set of recommendations for the new administration and Congress. This catalogue is the fruit of those labors.

Whether America’s policymakers will really take a fresh look at criminal justice has yet to be seen, but if they should (and they should), this catalogue provides a thorough and thoughtful place to start the discussion.  If our policymakers want “change”, this would be a darn good place to start.