Improving Reentry for District of Columbia Residents in the Bureau of Prisons Act of 2025
The Improving Reentry for District of Columbia Residents in the Bureau of Prisons Act of 2025, introduced by Representative Norton, would require the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to place certain inmates within 250 miles of Washington, DC. Specifically, starting within two years of enactment, BOP must not place a “covered individual” (DC residents who are in BOP custody under the DC-specific National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act) in a facility farther than 250 miles from DC unless the inmate requests a placement beyond that distance. The bill allows an exception for “extraordinary circumstances,” in which the Director could place the inmate farther away but must provide a written explanation to key congressional committees within 30 days. It does not bar prerelease custody or transfers to start supervised release under federal law. The bill defines the eligible inmates, the relevant congressional committees, and sets a two-year implementation window. The purpose is to improve reentry outcomes for DC residents by keeping custody locations geographically closer to home, facilitating family connections and community ties that support reintegration.
Key Points
- 1Distance restriction: Beginning up to two years after enactment, the Director of the BOP must not place a covered DC resident in a facility more than 250 miles from DC unless the inmate requests the closer-to-home placement or consents to a farther placement.
- 2Extraordinary circumstances exception: The Director may place beyond 250 miles if “extraordinary circumstances” exist, but must provide a written explanation to the covered congressional committees within 30 days of the placement.
- 3Prerelease and supervised release: The act does not prohibit prerelease custody (under current law) or transferring an inmate to begin supervised release; those pathways remain available and are not restricted by the distance rule.
- 4Who is covered: The target group is individuals who are DC residents at sentencing and were committed to BOP custody under the DC-specific provisions in the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997.
- 5Implementation and oversight: The bill identifies the relevant congressional committees (House Judiciary and Oversight and Reform; Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs) and sets a clear two-year window after enactment to begin complying.