Norton Introduces D.C. Parole and Supervised Release Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) has introduced a bill to give the District of Columbia the authority to make parole and supervised release determinations for D.C. Code offenders beginning in 2022. Currently, the U.S. Parole Commission makes these determinations for D.C. Code offenders.
"This bill is important because it would give D.C. the same right that states have to make parole and supervised release determinations for residents convicted of violating their laws," Norton said. "Even before we achieve statehood, I'm continuing to fight for D.C. to have the same rights as the states do, including the right to make these determinations."
Norton's introductory statement is below.
Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on
the Introduction of the District of Columbia Parole and Supervised Release Act
December 7, 2020
I rise today to introduce the District of Columbia Parole and Supervised Release Act. This bill would give the District of Columbia the authority to make parole and supervised release determinations for D.C. Code offenders beginning on November 1, 2022.
Currently, the U.S. Parole Commission (Commission) makes these determinations for D.C. Code offenders. This bill would give D.C. the same authority over parole and supervised release determinations for D.C. Code offenders that the Commission has today. The District has asked to have this authority for its own local offenders. D.C. would have the same authority the states possess over their own local offenders on these matters, including the authority to devise an adjudication system as it sees fit.
The National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 transferred the functions of the D.C. Parole Board to the Commission. By transferring the costs associated with the Commission's work on D.C. Code offenders to the District, the federal government would save money with passage of this bill.
I ask my colleagues to support this bill.