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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.

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.

From Incarceration to Inclusion: How D.C. Can Lead on Reentry Workforce Innovation, a new report published by SCHA, offers proposed solutions to policymakers on how they can continue to improve D.C.’s reentry workforce landscape, build D.C.’s economy and support businesses struggling to find employees. The reports examines the reentry workforce ecosystems of Washington, D.C., Prince George’s County and Baltimore, Maryland, and Denver, including the various interventions or strategies used by these jurisdictions to train and place justice impacted people in jobs. Using this comparative research, SCHA identified takeaways that D.C. can use to improve its own reentry workforce ecosystem.

CCE is proud of the impact we have made in the D.C. community in 2025. Our annual Highlights features some key examples of the work we've done and reports we've published.

CCE released a 2025 update to CCE’s popular community guide, A Victim’s Guide to the District of Columbia’s Legal System. Originally published in 1987, this new edition reflects recent updates to D.C. law and provides a roadmap to help victims understand their rights, connect with comprehensive support services, and navigate the complex web of agencies, stakeholders, and processes to pursue justice in D.C.

Testimony on the Strengthening Capacity and Transparency at DYRS Amendment Act, which seeks to address the ongoing overcrowding at the Youth Services Center (YSC), by directing the Mayor to create a one-year action plan to address the issue.

2024 and 2023 Audited Financial Statements

2024 IRS Form 990