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Norton Encourages Federal Bureau of Prisons to Release as Many D.C. Code Felons as Practicable

May 4, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) wrote the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) today encouraging it to release as many District of Columbia Code felons as possible and as appropriate to home confinement, in light of the coronavirus pandemic. "BOP has an obligation to pay particular attention to D.C. Code felons, who are housed by BOP," Norton wrote, "because the District has only limited authority over D.C. Code felons in BOP custody, most located many miles from the District, compared with states' authority over prisoners in their state prisons." BOP houses D.C. Code felons, the only local offenders required to be housed by BOP.

Norton's letter follows:

May 4, 2020

Michael Carvajal

Director

Federal Bureau of Prisons

320 First Street NW

Washington, DC 20534

Dear Director Carvajal:

I write concerning the need to place as many District of Columbia residents as possible and as appropriate in Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) prisons on home confinement. BOP has an obligation to pay particular attention to D.C. Code felons, who are housed by BOP, because the District has only limited authority over D.C. Code felons in BOP custody, most located many miles from the District, compared with states' authority over prisoners in their state prisons. In light of the coronavirus, it is critical that BOP place as many prisoners as possible and as appropriate on home confinement, to protect both BOP staff and the prisoners.

As you know, the CARES Act (Pub. L. 116-136) authorized you to "lengthen the maximum amount of time… a prisoner [may be placed] in home confinement…" and to reduce the amount of time in prison by the amount of time served on home confinement. As you are further aware, the Attorney General has determined "that emergency conditions will materially affect the functioning of the Bureau [of Prisons,]" also giving you the authority to lengthen the amount of time a prisoner may be placed on home confinement.

As you continue to evaluate which prisoners are to be placed on home confinement, I ask that you pay particular attention to D.C. Code felons. As you are aware, D.C. Code felons are the only local prisoners required to be housed by BOP. D.C. Code felons are housed at BOP prisons across the country and therefore face a greater challenge successfully reentering society upon release. Therefore, placing these prisoners on home confinement, where appropriate, should be a priority for BOP.

I ask that you respond in writing within three days of the date of this letter, addressing these issues, and informing me of how many D.C. Code felons and D.C. federal offenders have already been placed or are being prepared to be placed on home confinement in light of the recent authority given to BOP under the CARES Act and by the Attorney General.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton