Norton Calls Out BOP for Failure to Notify Her of Status of Hope Village Contract
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released Norton's letter to the Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Hugh J. Hurwitz, criticizing the BOP for failing to notify her of the status of the Residential Reentry Management Center contract with Hope Village. Norton thanked Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Denise Rucker Krepp (6B10) for raising the issue of the new contract to her office.
In her letter, Norton wrote, "I am deeply concerned about the failure of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to notify me, the Congresswoman for the District of Columbia, or any other District official, of the status of the Residential Reentry Management Center (RRC) contract with Hope Village here in the District. This breach of protocol—and, indeed, lack of courtesy—continues to occur, despite outreach by my staff seeking information on the contract… I ask for a written response on whether Hope Village has a new seven-month contract or extension, and when a final contract is expected to be signed."
Norton's full letter is below.
Hugh J. Hurwitz
Acting Director
Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First Street NW
Washington, DC 20534
Dear Acting Director Hurwitz:
I am deeply concerned about the failure of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to notify me, the Congresswoman for the District of Columbia, or any other District official, of the status of the Residential Reentry Management Center (RRC) contract with Hope Village here in the District. This breach of protocol—and, indeed, lack of courtesy—continues to occur, despite outreach by my staff seeking information on the contract. My office has requested information from BOP regarding whether the contract was renewed, but we have yet to receive a response. I am appalled that we only learned of the apparent contract renewal when a constituent forwarded to us an internet posting about a $7,671,900, seven-month contract with Hope Village, instead of receiving this information directly from BOP.
Even now, we have no official information on the status of RRCs in the District. I ask for a written response on whether Hope Village has a new seven-month contract or extension, and when a final contract is expected to be signed. Please respond within 30 days.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton