Norton Gets D.C. Code Felons New Benefits in First Step Act, Headed to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that the First Step Act, which overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives today and now heads to the President, will apply to District of Columbia Code felons, who are the only local offenders housed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Norton got language changed to clarify that the bill applies to all inmates under BOP's jurisdiction, not just those convicted under federal law.

Critically, D.C. Code offenders will be covered by a new provision requiring BOP to place prisoners in a facility as close as practicable to the prisoner's residence, and to the extent practicable, in a facility within 500 driving miles of that residence. Under current law, BOP has the sole responsibility for selecting a prison for a prisoner, though it was BOP's policy to try to place prisoners within 500 miles of their residence. The new requirement is subject to bed availability, the prisoner's security designation, the prisoner's programmatic needs, the prisoner's mental and medical health needs, any request made by the prisoner related to faith-based needs, recommendations of the sentencing court and other security concerns of the BOP. In addition, BOP must, subject to the above considerations and the prisoner's preference for staying at his or her current facility or being transferred, transfer prisoners to facilities that are closer to the prisoner's primary residence even if the prisoner is already in a facility within 500 driving miles of that residence.

Under the bill, all BOP prisoners, including D.C. Code offenders, can earn good time credits and secure earlier release by participating in recidivism reduction programs. The bill also provides additional phone privileges, video conferencing privileges, additional time for visitation and identification documents for returning citizens.

"The First Step Act enacts the first meaningful reforms to our federal prison system in a generation, and we ensured that our D.C. Code felons, who are housed at BOP facilities, will benefit," Norton said. "I have worked for years to ensure our inmates are housed as close to the District as possible to encourage visits from family, which have been proven important to successful reentry to society. Getting this requirement codified in federal law will help our efforts. In addition, D.C. Code felons will be eligible for the many programs and services made available in this legislation to reduce recidivism and provide returning citizens with critical skills and training, as well as treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. This is truly a ‘first step,' and I look forward to working on further prison and sentencing reform legislation in the next Congress."