Overview
Title
To direct the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to provide information on certain persons under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Prisons to the Mayor of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The bill says that every three months, the people in charge of the prisons have to tell the Mayor of Washington, D.C., who is in jail and when they might get out. But, the Mayor can't tell this information to people outside the city government, unless it's to lawyers or helpers who work with the prisoners.
Summary AI
H. R. 806 aims to ensure that the Director of the Bureau of Prisons provides specific information about individuals under its jurisdiction to the Mayor of the District of Columbia. Every 90 days, details such as the person's name, age, Federal Register Number, housing facility, and release date must be shared. The Mayor can also request additional information that is typically given to the Director of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency. However, this bill restricts the Mayor from sharing this information outside the DC government, with exceptions allowing it to be shared with legal representatives and organizations assisting with legal or post-conviction matters.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill titled "District of Columbia Code Returning Citizens Coordination Act," introduced in the House of Representatives on January 28, 2025, seeks to mandate the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to share certain information about individuals under its jurisdiction with the Mayor of the District of Columbia. This information includes details such as names, ages, Federal Register Numbers, place of confinement, and scheduled release dates, updated every 90 days. Furthermore, upon the Mayor's request, additional data that might be shared with the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency can be requested. There are also provisions in place limiting the Mayor from disclosing this information outside of the District government, except to certain legal individuals and organizations involved in reentry matters.
Summary of Significant Issues
A critical issue identified is the lack of specificity in how the Bureau of Prisons should transmit this information to the Mayor, potentially leading to inadequate or inconsistent communication methods. Furthermore, the scope of "information" that the Director might share with the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency is unclear, which could result in confusion over confidentiality and privacy. Privacy protection is another concern since the bill doesn't address how to safeguard the personal data of incarcerated individuals. The bill also outlines disclosure prohibitions for the Mayor but lacks clarity on permissible exceptions and what constitutes "information," making enforcement ambiguous. Lastly, the proposed 90-day update interval might be insufficient for timely decision-making.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, especially those who reside in the District of Columbia, this bill has implications for transparency and governance. Ensuring that the District is kept informed about incarcerated individuals, and their statuses could facilitate better coordination for reentry programs, potentially aiding in the rehabilitation and reduction of recidivism. However, the public might express concerns regarding privacy and the secure handling of personal information, especially if there are no robust safeguards outlined to prevent misuse or breaches.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For the District of Columbia government and its officials, especially the Mayor along with their office, this bill includes responsibilities that demand careful coordination and perhaps additional resources to handle the required information securely and efficiently. Legal representatives and organizations supporting reentry might benefit from increased access to information, facilitating more informed legal and rehabilitative services for returning citizens. However, local law enforcement agencies may face limitations due to restrictions on receiving information, potentially impacting their operational capabilities and collaboration efforts. Privacy advocates and civil rights organizations are likely to express concern over the privacy implications if the bill's implementation lacks stringent data protection measures.
Issues
The bill lacks specific instructions on how the Director of the Bureau of Prisons should communicate the information to the Mayor of the District of Columbia, which may lead to ambiguities in Section 2 regarding the method of information transfer.
Section 2 is unclear about the scope of 'information' that the Director provides to the Director of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia. This lack of clarity could create confusion over what data is being shared.
There is no mention of data protection or privacy measures in Section 2 for handling and transmitting information about individuals, which raises privacy concerns and potential breaches of individuals' privacy rights.
The prohibition on the disclosure of information by the Mayor outside of the District of Columbia government, as specified in Section 3, is somewhat ambiguous. The exceptions to this prohibition could be confusing, particularly in reconciling items (1) and (2), which may lead to varied interpretations on what disclosures are permitted.
Section 3 does not define what constitutes 'information' that may or may not be disclosed, potentially leading to inconsistent applications of disclosure prohibitions and exceptions.
The frequency of information updates every 90 days specified in Section 2 might be considered insufficiently frequent, potentially resulting in decisions based on outdated information.
The bill's focus solely on non-disclosure to DC law enforcement, without detailing other legal or ethical limits on sharing information, could lead to circumvention or misuse of the shared data, especially concerning points of legal representation in Section 3.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
This part of the bill gives it a name, indicating that it can be referred to as the “District of Columbia Code Returning Citizens Coordination Act.”
2. Provision of information to the District of Columbia related to certain persons under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Prisons Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Director of the Bureau of Prisons must give the Mayor of Washington, D.C. details about people under their care every 90 days. This includes their name, age, ID number, facility location, and planned release date. If the Mayor asks, they will also provide additional information shared with the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for D.C.
3. Prohibition on District of Columbia disclosure Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Mayor of the District of Columbia is prohibited from sharing certain information outside of the District's government. However, the Mayor can share this information with legal counsel or organizations that help with legal representation related to criminal, post-conviction, or reentry issues.