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Policy Counsel Katie McConville urged the Office of Human Rights (OHR) to publicly report on complaints filed under the Second Chance Amendment Act (SCAA), and requested adequate funding for OHR to handle SCAA implementation in 2027. CCE also recommended that OHR publicly report quarterly on employment discrimination and harassment complaints filed by DOC staff to address workplace culture issues contributing to high vacancy rates and costly overtime spending.

Policy Counsel Katie McConville presented recommendations thatthe Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP) require higher nutritional standards (including fresh fruits, vegetables, and adequate protein) in the upcoming jail food services contract solicitation, remove barriers that limit vendor competition, and increase the food budget above the current $6.56 per diem. Additionally, CCE recommended OCP ensure any new jail construction contracts include a Community Advisory Board and outdoor recreation access for residents, with full transparency and community input throughout the procurement process.

CCE submitted written testimony to recommend that the ANC 7F08 Commissioner, who represents D.C. Jail residents, be allowed to testify in person at Council hearings and be provided with audio/video recording equipment to document jail conditions and amplify constituents’ voices. These changes would ensure equitable treatment for the ANC and give visibility to the often-overlooked experiences of incarcerated residents.

Policy Director Tracy Velázquez urged Council to mandate a Community Advisory Board for new jail planning to ensure transparency and community input, as Department of Correction's (DOC) current plans lack outdoor access for residents and meaningful stakeholder engagement. CCE also recommended DOC implement a grievance process at Central Cell Block, expedite safety and accessibility repairs including broken wheelchair lifts and inoperable cells.

Criminal Justice Fellow Crystal Jones Nieves recommended that the D.C. Corrections Information Council (CIC) conduct more frequent unannounced inspections of Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities, release reports within one month of inspections, and receive increased funding to fulfill its oversight mission. CIC should also regularly update its public communications (Bulletin and Radar), inspect more federal BOP facilities housing D.C. residents, and seek authority to inspect Northern Neck Regional Jail in Virginia where U.S. Marshals Service detainees are held. 

Policy Counsel Katie McConville presented testimony for the 2026 Performance Oversight Hearing for the Department of Corrections focused on conditions in the jail, urging Council to require quarterly public reporting on vacancies, overtime, violence, use of force, and grievances; mandate enhanced nutritional standards; provide capital funding for immediate repairs; and ensure any new jail contract includes public oversight and accountability. 

Policy Director Tracy Velázquez testified on progress that the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) and Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) have made towards improving the District’s responses to youth who have been involved in both the youth justice and child welfare systems. The testimony focused on CCE’s recently completed report on compliance with recommendations made in CCE’s 2024 report, A Broken Web.

Policy Manager Magdalena Tsiongas testified to the D.C. Council’s Committee on Youth Affairs regarding the ongoing issues with the Youth Services Center regarding conditions of confinement, DYRS’ performance in regard to family engagement, and the need to re-establish independent oversight of DYRS. There remain concerning issues around youth awaiting relevant and appropriate placements spending long periods of time - often months - at YSC before being placed. This is an issue CCE explored in the October 2025 report, Committed Youth Awaiting Placement in the D.C. Youth Services Center, and presented to this Committee already. There have been no significant changes in the average length of stay (LOS) for committed youth in the past six months. Tsiongas also asked that independent oversight of DYRS be reestablished, either through the reviving the Office of Independent Juvenile Justice Facilities Oversight (OIJJFO) or within another agency such as the Ombudsperson for Children.

Criminal Justice Fellow Crystal Nieves Murphy testified on CCE's D.C. jail audit findings, which included persistent mold and temperature control problems urging DGS to prioritize preventative maintenance before summer; ensure a new jail has adequate climate systems; and require the creation of a Community Advisory Board to allow for meaningful public input on a new jail.

Policy Manager Magdalena Tsiongas testified before the D.C. Council’s Committee on Youth Affairs regarding the performance of the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) and the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children (OFC) on their progress toward the recommendations in the May 2024 A Broken Web audit. Since the audit’s publication, OFC has implemented new data collection methods and tracking systems to strengthen interagency collaboration and has signaled a willingness to continue implementing additional audit recommendations. While CFSA did share some progress they have made with data management systems and data sharing, these strides were not specific to the crossover youth population. CFSA seems to have postponed most independent, agency-specific efforts to address most of the recommendations until the expected completion of a Crossover Youth Practice Model initiative in collaboration with Georgetown University.

Civil Justice Fellow Tariq Hardiman and Policy and Education Associate Aayushma Bastola cowrote a testimony, presented by Tariq Hardiman, recommending that MORCA: receive restored funding to FY 2025 levels ($2.9 million); increase transparency about its services and partnerships on its website; improve referral tracking and case management; and establish robust data collection systems to monitor employment outcomes and program effectiveness. Additionally, CCE recommended MORCA expand and better advertise the Access to Jobs Grant program, finalize its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to track returning citizens, and provide clearer public information about the Commission on Re-Entry and Returning Citizens’ activities.

The Executive Summary highlights key findings and recommendations from From Incarceration to Inclusion: How D.C. Can Lead on Reentry Workforce Innovation.