The April 2021 ReThink Justice monthly meeting featured a presentation on the recently publish final report of the DC Police Reform Commission. The report included a comprehensive set of police reform recommendations. The briefing was given by Blaine Stum, Legislative Policy Analyst for DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson . Mr. Stum, on behalf of Chairman …
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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.
I a letter send to Councilmember Vincent Gray, a diverse group of over 20 community leaders, faith leaders and citizens calling on him to abandon his attacks on The Horizon, a short-term family housing facility in Ward 7 that supports 35 families. They also noted in the letter that the attack on The Horizon was …
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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As reported in the DCIST.com: Mayor Muriel Bowser has nominated longtime police official Robert J. Contee III to lead the Metropolitan Police Department in the wake of Chief Peter Newsham’s planned departure for the Prince William County Police Department.
As reported in the Washington City Paper Loose Lips this week, Councilman Vince Gray is using a political maneuver–supported by Council Chair Mendelson–as leverage to stop the opening of the federal men’s halfway house in his Ward. It should be noted that this tactic, if successful, may close down a homeless shelter! The District has …
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 …
What Happened The federal Revitalization Act of 1997 and subsequent legislation placed the management of the parole function under a federal agency, the U.S. Parole Commission (USPC). This past November, Congress authorized the elimination of the U.S. Parole Commission (USPC) in November 2020. This opened the door to returning these functions to District control. Now, …
Mayor Muriel Bowser has chosen a replacement for now-retired DC Police Chief Peter Newsham. She chose Robert J. Contee III, a 31-year veteran who joined the force as a cadet while a senior at the now-closed Spingarn High School. He will serve on an acting basis pending confirmation by the D.C. Council. For more, see …
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According to several media reports, DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has announced Council assignments for next year. Some highlights:
