Norton Confirms Significant Breakthrough in Relocating Prisoners to D.C. (08/23/2010)

Norton Confirms Significant Breakthrough in Relocating Prisoners to D.C. Rather Than Far Away From Home

August 23, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a letter today from the Congresswoman to Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Harley Lappin concerning the commitments he made in his testimony at a recent Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia hearing. BOP's agreement to both fund and house D.C. Code felons with short sentences in facilities close to their families, instead of being sent to federal facilities around the country, and to house juveniles convicted as adults at a D.C. Jail facility confirms significant breakthrough for District residents in BOP facilities since the transfer of D.C. Code felons to BOP jurisdiction13 years ago.

In his testimony, Lappin stated that D.C. Code felons who receive sentences of six months or less will be housed in the D.C. Jail instead of being sent to BOP facilities across the country, and that BOP will assume financial responsibility for them. Lappin also agreed to investigate whether some of the female D.C. Code felons at the Fairview halfway house might be eligible for home detention, which would make room for more women at Fairview, the only halfway house for women in D.C. In addition, Lappin agreed to update Norton on BOP's efforts to place videoconferencing capabilities in BOP facilities.

Norton said, "These changes are necessary for D.C. prisoners who are now sometimes housed thousands of miles from the District and who do not have contact with their families. The data shows that contact with family, friends, and clergy are correlated with successful reentry and reduction in recidivism. I am especially pleased that these results have been obtained through our hearings and meetings and without the necessity for me to seek legislation, which speaks well of the responsiveness of the BOP to our concerns."

Norton said that while these improvements are an important first step, in her letter she also asked Lappin to develop a plan to transfer D.C. prisoners to the D.C. Jail 90 days prior to the end of their incarceration to allow access to reentry services available at the jail. Norton wants this change because D.C. residents are spread throughout the country at 115 different BOP facilities in 33 states, which poses serious obstacles to successful reentry and crime reduction. She said that the D.C. Jail is equipped to provide reentry services and is accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA), the National Commission on Correctional HealthCare, and leads the nation in the largest number of Correction Officers who have received the ACA's professional certification. Among the services that would be available to returning inmates at the D.C. Jail are a substance abuse treatment program, job readiness program, permanent housing program, juvenile program, comprehensive medical services, and an educational program that leads to awarding a GED.

When the District's Lorton Correctional Complex closed in 2001, all D.C Code felons were placed in BOP facilities. Today, an estimated 5,600 D.C. Code felons are housed in BOP facilities, 248 of whom women.

Norton's letter follows.

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Director Harley Lappin

Federal Bureau of Prisons

320 First St., NW

Washington, DC 20534

Dear Director Lappin:

This letter is to indicate the commitments that you made to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and District of Columbia during our recent hearing entitled "Female D.C. Code Felons: Unique Challenges In Prison and At Home." When undertaken, we believe that these actions will generate measurable improvements in reentry and in the reduction of recidivism in the District of Columbia, and, importantly, will help the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to meet the congressional mandate that it accommodate a state prison system within the federal system. This requirement necessitates that the BOP take reasonable steps to ensure that incarceration in a federal facility does not unfairly burden D.C. Code felons or the District of Columbia, where these inmates generally return after incarceration. We appreciate the following commitments.

First, you said that D.C. Code felons who receive sentences of 180 days or less would be designated to the D.C. jail and that the BOP would assume financial responsibility for them. It is my understanding that D.C. Code felons who receive sentences of 180 days or less and are housed in the D.C. jail often are not designated by the BOP and that therefore the District is not being reimbursed for the cost of housing them.

Second, we are also requesting that you transfer D.C. Code felons to the D.C. jail 90 days before the end of their incarceration to allow access to reentry services available there. We recognize that this will entail some difference from the usual processing of D.C. Code felons as though they were federal prisoners, but, the 1997 National Capital Revitalization and Self Government Improvement Act recognizes that D.C. Code felons are not U.S. Code felons and that they do not lose their identity as D.C. Code felons.

Third, you agreed to investigate whether some of the female D.C. Code felons at the Fairview halfway house might be eligible for home detention rather than halfway house placement. Because there is only one halfway house for women in the District of Columbia, it is important that BOP make every effort to offer Fairview's helpful halfway house experience to those women most in need of it.

Fourth, you agreed to provide information on the recidivism rates of D.C. Code felons. We recognize that D.C. Code felons are state felons, often charged with a different set of crimes, but it would be helpful in planning for reentry to be able to compare the rates of recidivism for D.C. Code felons with those of other BOP populations.

Fifth, you agreed to update us on your efforts to place videoconferencing capabilities in every BOP facility, including those that house D.C. Code felons. You indicated that the Court Services and Supervision Agency (CSOSA) could help implement this important tool to help us stay in touch with our residents, which is a good idea if you bear in mind that CSOSA is a headquarters organization without a presence in most BOP locations. I will leave it to BOP and CSOSA to handle the logistics.

Finally, you agreed to work with the Corrections Information Council (CIC) to sign a memorandum of understanding, which is necessary for the CIC to be able to visit BOP facilities and to help the city prepare for the return of our residents.

Thank you again for the improvements that the BOP has already made. Please provide me with an update on these issues within 30 days.

Sincerely,