CCE Signs on to Thrive Under 25 Letter to the Mayor and DC Council Regarding COVID-19

CCE joined local advocates to write the DC Council and Mayor Bowser with recommendations for further COVID-19 responsive actions in DC's criminal legal system to better meet the needs of people who are incarcerated or returning to the District from prison and jail, including:

1. Mandating and implementing universal testing of all individuals in custody and DOC staff;
2. Releasing individuals nearing the end of their sentences;
3. Prioritizing release to home confinement of individuals serving Bureau of Prison sentences in DOC custody;
4. Modifying discovery practices to allow individuals a fair opportunity to defend their cases;
5. Suspending mandatory minimum sentences and giving judges discretion to delay sentencing;
6. Providing critical funding for community-based reentry service providers and for housing for returning citizens;
7. Amending the District's criminal record sealing laws to provide greater opportunities for returning citizens to access job and housing resources; and
8. Amending DC's compassionate release statute to place vulnerability to COVID-19 as a separate standalone basis for compassionate release.

CCE is actively leading work on recommendations 6, 7, and 8, in coalition with our partners. You can read the full letter here.