Norton Commends Isaac Fulwood for Outstanding Service Following USPC Retirement Announcement
*Nominating Commission Begins Accepting Applications*
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released the following statement regarding the announcement that U.S. Parole Commission (USPC) Chairman Isaac Fulwood Jr. will be retiring, effective at the end of the month:
"The President now has a huge void to fill with the departure of Chairman Isaac Fulwood. For more than five years, Chairman Fulwood has been an incredibly effective leader who brought unmatched innovation, professionalism and experience to the role of the first chair of the Commission to be a D.C. resident. I cannot thank Chairman Fulwood enough for his extraordinary service and the work he continues to do for our city. Even before Attorney General Eric Holder initiated unprecedented, progressive policies such as the release of nonviolent prisoners from long prison terms, Chairman Fulwood had already instituted best practices, such as alternatives to incarceration and access to mental health programs incentivized by delaying sanctions. By employing sanctions as a last resort rather than the only option, Fulwood enabled offenders to retain jobs and support their families rather than needlessly adding to the cost of full incarceration at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which houses D.C. Code felons. Ike Fulwood, a former D.C. police chief during the drug epidemic of the 1990s and a D.C. resident, was the perfect presidential appointee for this difficult position. He has established the 21st-century model not only for the U.S. Parole Commission, but for the many states now in the throes of thinking through prison and parole policies."
Norton recommended Fulwood to President Obama to be chairman of the Commission. Fulwood is a not only a lifelong District resident and a former D.C. Metropolitan Police Department chief, but also now serves in the voluntary role as chair of the D.C. Commission on Black Men and Boys, which Norton established more than a dozen years ago to help African American males and other residents focus greater attention on the deep problems of Black men and boys, including high dropout rates from school, high crime and absent-father rates, and low marriage rates.
Due to the vacancy on the U.S. Parole Commission that will be created by Fulwood's retirement, Norton's Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission will be accepting applications to fill the open seat. President Obama, like President Clinton, granted Norton senatorial courtesy for some Parole Commission vacancies because the District Code felons fall under its jurisdiction.
Interested candidates must submit their applications by February 22. Applications should include a résumé and a letter of interest outlining their qualifications and reasons they want the position. Applications should be sent to:
Pauline A. Schneider
Chair, Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission
Ballard Spahr LLP
1909 K Street NW, 12th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006