This contains posts related to the issue of the District taking over control of it’s parole system.
In a press release issued by her office, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton announced that her District of Columbia Home Rule Expansion Act (H.R. 8861), “the biggest expansion of D.C. home rule since passage of the D.C. Home Rule Act in 1973,” passed the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. The bill, if passed into law, …
Continue reading “Rep. Norton’s Bill Expanding D.C. Home Rule Approved by House Judiciary Commitee”
The bill is S.4664, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023. It was introduced in July. This is one of the appropriations bills that will be passed before the end of 2022. The total language in the bill relevant to the USPC is” “For necessary expenses of the United States Parole Commission …
Continue reading “Senate appropriations bill includes funds for US Parole Commission in 2023”
A staff attorney with the DC Public Defenders Service has been nominated by President Biden to be a Commissioner of the United States Parole Commission. Her appointment is subject to Senate approval. When approved, Ms. Carter will become one of three Commissioners and the only one who resides in, or has ties to, the District. …
Continue reading “DC Public Defender Nominated as a Commissioner of the U.S. Parole Commission”
This is a piece from University Legal Services’ Jail and Prison Advocacy Project recent newsletter. It was authored by Cami Bianchi, one of their summer interns and is published here with permission. Parole Reform Setback For years now, DC residents and reentry organizations have worked to gain local control over parole, which is currently in …
Continue reading “Parole Reform Setback, University Legal Services report”
DCIST has published an article on the local control of parole issue titled D.C. Could Take A Pivotal Piece Of The Criminal Justice System Back From Federal Control. Why Is It Taking So Long?. Some highlights from the article: The U.S. Parole Commission has wrought decades of harm on D.C. residents, especially Black D.C. residents …
The Washington City Paper published an article on the issue of local control of parole titled Bowser’s Delays Could Cost D.C. the Chance to Take Back Control of Parole From the Feds. Some highlights: Advocates fear the city has missed a golden opportunity to gain more autonomy and help incarcerated people. Mayor Muriel Bowser and her …
The United States Courts (uscourts.gov) has published an article titled All Hands on Deck! Toward a Reentry-Centered Vision of Federal Probation. The article considers how we might enhance the reentry process in federal supervision, particularly with the recent passage of the First Step Act (FSA).
President Biden has authorized Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton to recommend candidates to be Commissioners serving on the U.S. Parole Commission (USPC). Commissioners are appointed by the President and must be confirmed by the Senate. Rep. Norton has announced that her office will be accepting applications until 6:00 p.m. on November 11, 2021. Applications consist of …
The Washington Post article reports the experience of DC native James Dunn to demonstrate all that is wrong with the current system of parole under the federal U.S. Probation Service (USPC). Despite being fully qualified for parole, the USPC denied him release three times. Mr. Dunn was finally able to win release under DC’s new …
Reports, Letters, and Testimony Regarding Local Control of Parole This post is regularly updated as new documents are published. The ReThink Justice DC Coalition has been actively advocating to transfer the parole function from federal control to local District control through the work of its New Vision: Alternatives to Incarceration Committee. Along with our partners …
Continue reading “Local Control of DC Parole Document Library”
