Press Release: Norton Introduces Bill Giving D.C. Local Control Over Parole and Supervised Release Determinations
News Release — DC Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton
January 28, 2020
Contact: Sharon Eliza Nichols
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today reintroduced legislation to give the District of Columbia the authority to make parole and supervised release determinations for D.C. Code felons. Currently, the U.S. Parole Commission (Commission) makes these determinations for D.C. Code felons. The Commission’s authorization expires on October 31, 2022, and D.C.’s authority to make such determinations would begin on November 1, 2022.
The National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 transferred the functions of the D.C. Parole Board to the Commission. Norton’s bill would give D.C. the same authority as states to make parole and supervised release determinations, including the authority to devise an adjudication system as it sees fit.
“With Democrats in control of the presidency, the House and the Senate, and with 210 cosponsors of my D.C. statehood bill, we have never been closer to statehood,” Norton said. “However, pending statehood itself, I continue to work to give D.C. more home-rule authority, including over its criminal justice system. My goal is for the District to use the next two years to develop its own system to make parole and supervised release determinations for D.C. Code felons, instead of having a federal agency make such determinations. D.C., not a federal agency, is in the best position to make parole and supervised release determinations for its offenders.”
Norton’s introductory statement follows.
Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the District of Columbia Parole and Supervised Release Act
January 28, 2021
I rise today to introduce the District of Columbia Parole and Supervised Release Act. This bill would give the District of Columbia the authority to make parole and supervised release determinations for D.C. Code offenders beginning on November 1, 2022.
Currently, the U.S. Parole Commission (Commission) makes these determinations for D.C. Code offenders. This bill would give D.C. the same authority over parole and supervised release determinations for D.C. Code offenders that the Commission has today. The District has asked to have this authority for its own local offenders. D.C. would have the same authority the states possess over their own local offenders on these matters, including the authority to devise an adjudication system as it sees fit.
The National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 transferred the functions of the D.C. Parole Board to the Commission. By transferring the Commission’s work on D.C. Code offenders back to the District, the federal government would save money with enactment of this bill.
I ask my colleagues to support this bill.
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