Inadequate enforcement of law may make some tightening of rules of procedure and evidence desirable but it does not justify federalization of the police function The choice before you is whether we will have a federal criminal code which exists to support and protect this country's liberties or one rather which will be the instrument of their destruction. Thank you very much. THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON REFORM OF FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAWS 1111 TWENTIETH STREET NW. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 JANUARY 7, 1971. To the President and Congress: I hereby transmit to you the Final Report of the National Commission on Reform of Federal Criminal Laws pursuant to Section 8 of Public Law 89-801, as amended by Public Law 91-39. The Commission submits this proposed revision of Title 18, United States Code as a work basis upon which the Congress may undertake the necessary reform of the substantive federal criminal laws. The scope and organization of the proposed Code, its general approach to the problem of federal jurisdiction, and the basic outlines of its sentencing system, hold promise as a logical framework for a twentieth century penal code. Individually we have reservations, sometimes strong, on the resolution of particular issues. Nevertheless, we are, as a Commission, satisfied that the provisions embodied in the text, together with their noted alternatives, fairly expose the relevant policy issues and should facilitate the necessary legislative choices by the Congress. It is to be hoped that this work of reform, so necessary to the fair and effective administration of justice, may merit the due consideration of the Congress and that it will contribute to the resolution, on a constructive basis, of these difficult issues. cc: The President By Direction of the Commission, The President of the Senate Edmund G. Brown i |