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 in the Reentry Task Force, we’ve made a substantial contribution to the effort to establish an effective, humane, innovative and smart approach to This parole grants and parole and supervised release revocation proceedings in DC.
Many reports have been published, letters send and DC Council testimony submitted on this issue. This post provides links to all of these documents.
LETTER: From Councilman Charles Allen to Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Parole, Christopher Geldart, July 11, 2022
Councilman Allen’s letter requests “additional information about the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice’s (“DMPSJ”) recent efforts towards advancing local control of parole. It is my understanding that DMPSJ initially engaged Michelle Bonner and Olinda Moyd – subject matter experts with decades of experience with the District’s criminal justice system, and specifically with parole – as consultants to develop a plan for moving local control forward, but that you have since ended DMPSJ’s relationship with those experts and transitioned to a contract with CNA for the same work.”
[ Charles Allen letter to DMPSJ re Local Parole_2022-7-11 ]
REPORT: How the Proposed District of Columbia Parole and Supervised Release Authority rates: A National Comparison
ReThink Justice DC Coalition New Visions Committee co-chair Malcolm C. Young has drafted a concise report noting that the DC parole authority model proposed by ReThink Justice and the DC Reentry Task Force [link] would be a successful model based on a national comparison. The report, titled How the Proposed District of Columbia Parole and Supervised Release Authority rates: A National Comparison, shows that the ReThink/Reentry Task Force program model would be highly rated according to criteria applied in a survey of parole in 50 states by the Prison Policy Institute.
LETTER: To DC Officials re Restoring the District’s Control over Parole
The ReThink Justice DC Coalition and the DC Reentry Task Force sent a joint letter to key DC officials, including the Mayor and Council Judiciary Committee Chair, noting the lack of official action to return the parole function the District control. The letter expresses outrage over “our government’s failure to lead on this matter” adding that “The District is now at risk of squandering one of its greatest opportunities in decades to improve the D.C. criminal system.”
[ DOWNLOAD Letter to DC Government — Restoring Local Parole with links ]
REPORT: Establishing Principles for the Creation of a Local Paroling Authority
This was a joint effort with DC Reentry Task Force. The report lays out 19 principles that a new local parole function, regardless of the form a parole authority might take. (Oct. 15, 2020)
[ DOWNLOAD Principles for a Parole Entity document ]
PAPER: New Parole Authority for the District of Columbia
A three-page concept paper suggesting a structure for a local parole entity. (April 7, 2021 as revised April 20, 2021)
[ Click here to download ]
REPORT: Parole Release Decision Making
Concerns and Frequently Asked Questions about a new Parole Authority in the District of Columbia focusing on Parole Release Decision Making.
[ Click here to download ]
REPORT: Revocation of Parole and Supervised Release
Concerns and Frequently Asked Questions about a new Parole Authority in the District of Columbia focusing on Revocation of Parole and Supervised Release.
[ Click here to download ]
TESTIMONY: Submitted by Malcolm C. Young
Submitted on behalf of the ReThink Justice DC Coalition to the Public Oversight Roundtable on Local Control of Parole in DC, Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, Councilmember Charles Allen, Chairperson.
[ Click here to download ]
TESTIMONY: Supplemental Testimony Submitted by Malcolm C. Young
Submitted on behalf the ReThink Justice DC Coalition to the Public Oversight Roundtable on Local Control of Parole in DC, Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, Councilmember Charles Allen, Chairperson.
[ Click here to download ]