Norton Requests Information from Federal Bureau of Prisons to Ensure D.C. Inmates Receive Equal Treatment
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released Norton's letter to Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Acting Director Hugh J. Hurwitz requesting a list of all laws, rules, regulations, policies and programs applicable to federal offenders in BOP custody that are not applicable to D.C. Code felons in BOP custody. D.C. Code felons are the only local felons housed by BOP.
"We are analyzing programs and benefits offered to federal offenders at BOP that may not be available to D.C. Code offenders, so that District residents in the BOP can have equal access to available BOP programs where appropriate," Norton said. "In the past, we have discovered discrepancies and had them corrected. However, we have recently learned, thanks to the D.C. Public Defender Service, that some compassionate release programs may not be offered by the BOP to D.C. Code felons. We need to understand why. We also need to know if there are any other programs for which D.C. residents are not eligible, particularly considering the District's stake in ensuring BOP inmates are prepared for civil society."
At one time, D.C. Code felons in BOP custody did not have access to valuable drug rehabilitation and other recidivism reduction programs. Following this discovery, Congresswoman Norton was able to get them included.
Norton's full letter is below:
Hugh J. Hurwitz
Acting Director
Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First Street NW
Washington, DC 20534
Dear Acting Director Hurwitz:
As you know, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is responsible for housing District of Columbia Code felons, the only local offenders BOP is required to house. I appreciate that since BOP has been housing D.C. Code offenders, they have had access to many BOP programs, such as substance abuse treatment, which was initially denied. However, we have recently learned that D.C. Code felons may not qualify for certain forms of compassionate release, and we are concerned there may be other BOP programs and policies that do not apply to D.C. Code felons in the same manner they apply to federal offenders in BOP custody.
Therefore, I request that you identify all federal laws, rules, regulations, programs and policies related to federal offenders in BOP custody that do not apply in the same manner to D.C. Code felons in BOP custody, and provide them to me in writing.
I appreciate your attention to this matter, and request that you respond to this letter within 30 days.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton