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ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT AND BUREAU OF PRISONS REASSURE

WASHINGTON D.C. Attorney General John Ashcroft and the Bureau of Prisons today announced that the Bureau of Prisons will not award a contract for a halfway house for adult felons near Adams Elementary School in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

"I commend the Bureau of Prisons for being responsive to the concerns of the school and community. The Bureau of Prisons has assured me their practice is to consider fully community concerns in making final decisions regarding the awarding of contracts for halfway house sites. I look forward to working with them and all interested parties to find an acceptable location," said Ashcroft.

On Friday, Ashcroft met with school officials and toured Adams Elementary School, which is located in close proximity to a proposed site for the halfway house. Ashcroft and the Bureau of Prisons also met with D.C. City Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) and Ashcroft talked with Mayor Anthony Williams and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton about their concerns over the proposed site.

"After I became aware of this proposed site and had a chance to talk with the Bureau of Prisons, we moved quickly to assure the community that while we want to make sure those who have served their time have the opportunity to become constructive members of society, we also want to be sure that the security of our children and neighborhoods are not compromised."

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