Norton to Introduce Legislation Giving D.C. Local Control Over Parole and Supervised Release Determinations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced she will introduce legislation to give the District of Columbia the authority to make parole and supervised release determinations beginning on November 1, 2022. Currently, the U.S. Parole Commission (Commission) makes these determinations for D.C. Code felons. The Commission's authorization, which expires on October 31, 2020, would be extended for two years by the fiscal year 2021 continuing resolution the House is expected to pass this week.

The National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 transferred the functions of the D.C. Parole Board to the Commission. Norton's bill would give D.C. the same authority as states to make parole and supervised release determinations, including the authority to devise an adjudication system as it sees fit.

"Our statehood bill has passed the House, but pending statehood itself, I continue to work to give D.C. more home-rule authority over its criminal justice system," Norton said. "My goal is for the District to use the next two years to develop its own system to make parole and supervised release determinations for D.C. Code felons, instead of having a federal agency make such determinations."

Norton has introduced the following other bills to give D.C. greater authority over its own criminal and civil justice system.

• The District of Columbia Police Home Rule Act (H.R. 3092) would eliminate the president's authority to federalize the local D.C. police department.
• The District of Columbia Courts Home Rule Act (H.R. 2769) would give D.C. authority over the jurisdiction and organization of the local D.C. courts.
• The District of Columbia Clemency Home Rule Act (H.R. 1378) would give the District exclusive authority, like the states and territories, to grant clemency to offenders convicted under its local laws.Currently, this authority is exercised in D.C. by the President.
• The District of Columbia Local Prosecutor Home Rule Act of 2019 (H.R. 917) would allow the District to prosecute all crimes committed under its local laws.Currently, the U.S. Attorney for the District prosecutes almost all crimes committed by adults under local D.C. law.

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