For Immediate Release

	June 1, 2004 NBA SUBMITS TESTIMONY ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORMS With ABA Kennedy Commission on April 30, 2004 National Bar Association President Clyde Bailey submitted a detailed statement to the ABA Justice Kennedy Commission stating the NBA's position on mandatory minimum sentences, sentencing guidelines, and the disproportionate incarceration of African Americans. Authored by the Honorable Arthur Burnett, Sr. Judge, D.C. Superior Court, the statement maintains, among other things, "that much of the great disproportionate representation of African Americans in prison is due to socio-economic factors reflecting racism and bias as well as the concentration of law enforcement officers in such communities." Further, reform of criminal sanctions for drug law violations and restoration of judicial discretion are presented in the Statement as much fairer means to deal with a criminal justice system that overemphasizes criminal sanctions for drug addicted individuals who are not violent criminal offenders. Moreover, the National Bar Association's statement recommends a substantial expansion of drug courts as an alternative to a regular prison sentence. Drug courts are special courts given the responsibility to handle cases involving non-violent substance abusing offenders through comprehensive supervision, drug testing, treatment services and immediate sanctions and incentives. In congratulating Judge Burnett for such a thoughtful and thorough analysis on behalf of the Association, President Bailey indicated that the importance of this testimony is that it represents the voice of the Black legal community on the impact of failed criminal systems on the underserved, largely black communities. President Bailey hopes that the National Bar Association would have an opportunity to present its testimony before the Commission during the month of May. The National Bar Association, founded in 1925, is the nation's oldest and largest association of attorneys of color, representing a professional network of over 20,000 lawyers, judges, educators and law students. The complete NBA Kennedy Statement. (PDF)