Co-chair of the DC Reentry Task Force, Louis Sawyer, was featured in this Washington Post article. He spoke of how his family took 14-hour road trips to visit him in federal prison in southwestern Virginia, until he was moved to a prison too far away for them to continue their visits.
General DC Criminal System
Under this are posts that are of general interest to the District’s criminal system that may not fit under other categories.
PDS Publishes its new D.C. Reentry Navigator!
The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) has announced its publication of The D.C. Reentry Navigator, a 900-page, 16-chapter book that is a comprehensive compilation of expert knowledge and reentry resources for people arrested, charged, tried, and/or convicted under District of Columbia law. PDS created The D.C. Reentry Navigator as a resource …
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Mayor Signs Bill That Makes It Easier For Residents With Criminal Records To Find Work
Mayor Muriel Bowser has signed a bill passed unanimously by the DC Council called the Removing Barriers to Occupational Licensing for Returning Citizens Amendment Act of 2019. The new law bars occupational licensing boards withholding a license based on a criminal conviction, unless it is currently pending or “directly related” to the occupation. Boards will …
Galen Baughman case gains support to overturn unjust civil confinement
Galen Baughman was one of the original organizers of what became the ReThink Justice DC Coalition, assisting Charlie Sullivan in forming and operating the group, when it was called the First Friday Group. He was the group’s first administrator, until his incarceration in Virginia three years ago based on a technical violation of his parole. …
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D.C. data shows how minor supervision violations contribute to excessive jailing
Prison Policy Initiative has published a report–using D.C. as a case study–to show how much non-criminal – and often drug related – “technical” violations of probation and parole contribute to unnecessary jail incarceration. From their report: “In the nation’s capital, the scope of the problem is conspicuous. The Washington, D.C. Department of Corrections estimates that …
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Article: Advocates Want a D.C. Jail Resident to Run for an ANC Seat That’s Never Been Filled
As reported in the Washington City Paper, a coalition of local activists is pushing for D.C. Jail inmates to run as write-in candidates. Julie Johnson, a co-founder of Neighbors for Justice, says most jail inmates probably don’t know they’re eligible to run because ANC 7F07’s commissioner slot has never been filled. “A lot of people …
Video: Interview with Nicole Porter
Ms. Porter was interviewed by Interfaith Action for Human Rights (IAHR) as part of their “Reimagining Criminal Justice in the United States.” Nicole is Director of Advocacy at The Sentencing Project where she manages The Sentencing Project’s state and local advocacy efforts on sentencing reform, voting rights, and eliminating racial disparities in the criminal justice …
Video: Interview with Malcolm C. Young
Mr. Young was interviewed by Interfaith Action for Human Rights (IAHR) as part of their “Reimagining Criminal Justice in the United States.” Mr. Young has advocated for individuals in America’s criminal justice system for more than 45 years. During his illustrious career, Malcolm served as a defense attorney at a community defender office in Chicago. …
Video: Interview with Richard N. Van Wickler, Cheshire County Department of Corrections
Mr. Van Wickler was interviewed by Interfaith Action for Human Rights (IAHR) as part of their “Reimagining Criminal Justice in the United States.” Mr. Van Wickler was the Superintendent of the Cheshire County Department of Corrections in Keene, New Hampshire for 27 years. Mr. Van Wickler is a veteran of the United States Army and …
Mayor Bowser Grants Early Release to Several Residents Held in the DC Jail
Mayor Bowser, through authority granted by the “COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020” that was recently passed by the Council of the District of Columbia, will grant 75 days of additional good time credits to eligible residents in the DC Jail. Those eligible include residents who are currently in the DC Jail as a …
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