Digital Library

Open Horizon Fellow, Tariq Hardiman presented testimony to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). OAH plays a critical role in District residents' lives, but rising filings and limited resources strain the system. CCE recommends practical steps such as better access to decisions, clearer data, and improved payment systems, to advance fairness and transparency.

MPH Policy Manager, Magdalena Tsiongas, recently delivered testimony at the performance oversight hearing for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. The testimony highlighted the significant barriers to education faced by incarcerated youth in Washington, D.C. It also emphasized the importance of confirming the contract for the current education provider, See Forever Foundation, by July 2026 to ensure continuity of services. Finally, the testimony underscored the value of the Leading Education Access for Reentry and Necessary Success (LEARNS) Act in expanding opportunities for incarcerated youth to earn their GED and successfully reenter their communities.

Policy Director Tracy Velázquez commended CJCC’s work on the Pre-Arrest Diversion Taskforce and its incorporation of lived experience feedback, but recommended that future Pre-Arrest Diversion program planning: expand referral pathways beyond police contact, enhance police training on behavioral health interactions, and include youth in diversion programs. CCE also urged CJCC to conduct and publish the legislatively mandated crime victimization survey to provide crucial data on unreported crimes and demographic patterns of victimization in the District.

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 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. 

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 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.

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.

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.

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.