Advocating from DC Jail If DC Council members can't hear directly from people residing at DC Jail, they can't meaningfully exercise any oversight. 7 Minute Read Unlike most DC residents, the nearly 2,000 DC residents confined to DC Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities are not allowed to advocate...
Halfway houses Halfway houses were supposed to help people prepare for a future in the community, but their residents say they felt like they were still in prison. 9 Minute Read Government entities that fund halfway houses and the non-profit agencies that run them say that these...
DC Expungement NO LEGAL ADVICE INTENDED This website includes information about legal issues and legal developments. Such materials are for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal developments. These informational materials are not intended, and should not be taken, as legal advice on...
Parole and Supervised Release Even the United States Parole Commission doesn’t want to be the body deciding whether to deny parole to people convicted of DC Code offenses or send people back to jail. 13 Minute Read More than twenty years ago, DC shifted from a parole system,...
Solitary confinement The US Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on solitary confinement – DC’s Judiciary and Public Safety Committee has not. 8 Minute Read When someone incarcerated is placed in solitary confinement, they are kept alone in a prison or jail cell with no meaningful human interaction...
pregnancy and childbirth Every mother and child should bond in a safe and healthy environment–not be handcuffed and separated at birth in custody. 7 Minute Read watch the most recent council hearing When an individual is pregnant and gives birth, they need a proper diet, prenatal vitamins,...
Earned compliance credits Giving more rewards than sanctions achieves the best results for people under supervision. 5 Minute Read In DC, about 30 percent of people on probation, parole, and supervised release are arrested and end up back in jail because of a violation of their supervision. Among...
probation caps Capping probation terms would save DC taxpayers millions of dollars in jail costs. 3 Minute Read Nearly 560 people (8.1 percent) in DC who were on probation in 2022 were revoked to incarceration. Many people fail on probation because the sentence is too long, increasing the...
sex registries Registries increase homelessness and joblessness and don’t increase safety. 4 Minute Read https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5POMr7q7P0g Registration and notification laws for people convicted of sex offenses cause significant harm without providing any real public safety benefits. The scientific consensus that has emerged over the past quarter century shows that...
Criminal record discrimination People with criminal records lack core protections from the systemic discrimination they face. 3 Minute Read Individuals with prior criminal records often encounter discrimination in areas like employment, education, and housing. In DC, this discrimination disproportionately affects Black individuals, with 96 percent of those...