USPC NEWS United States Parole Commission September 22, 2003

Edward F. Reilly

U.S. Parole Commission to Hold Public Forum
For D.C. Residents on October 4, 2003

Edward F. Reilly, Jr., the Chairman of the United States Parole Commission today announced that the Parole Commission will hold a Public Forum on parole policies affecting District of Columbia prisoners. The Public Forum will take place on Saturday, October 4, 2003 at the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, 3100 Pennsylvania Avenue S.E., Washington, D.C. The Public Forum, which will last from 10:00 until Noon, is intended to acquaint families and friends of District of Columbia inmates, crime victims, and the public generally with the policies and procedures affecting the parole of D.C. offenders. Participating in the Forum, in addition to the Parole Commission, will be the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency of the District of Columbia and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

"The Public Forum will give people an opportunity to become acquainted with how the parole operates in the District of Columbia," Chairman Reilly stated. "The Parole Commission is responsible for making release decisions about District of Columbia felons eligible for parole and for ensuring that those who are on parole abide by the conditions that have been placed upon their release into the community. The Public Forum will give the public an opportunity to find out how the Parole Commission carries out its responsibilities in cooperation with other agencies, such as the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency of the District of Columbia and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The Forum also gives the citizens of the District of Columbia, particularly the citizens of Ward 7 where the Forum will take place, the opportunity to express their views on the operations of the Parole Commission. The Parole Commission is absolutely committed to serving the needs of all the citizens of the District. We all are working to ensure that the correctional system for the District of Columbia operates fairly and efficiently to return inmates to the community at the earliest possible time consistent with public safety."