05 Dec 2017
By cmmcduffie

Statement on MPD Use of Force Review Board’s finding in Terrance Sterling Case

Statement,
  Washington, D.C. – Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie (Ward 5) has issued the following statement on the determination by the Metropolitan Police Department Use of Force Review Board that the shooting of Terrance Sterling was not justified:   “The death of Terrance Sterling was a devastating tragedy. My thoughts remain with his family and friends. At the time of Mr. Sterling’s death, I chaired the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and reached out to the Metropolitan Police Department asking them to provide the public with more information on the status of the shooting investigation. As I have always maintained, transparency…
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18 May 2017
By cmmcduffie

PRESS RELEASE: McDuffie’s “Expanding Access to Justice Act” Included and Funded in Current Budget Report

Media Advisory, , , , ,
Program would fund lawyers for low-income tenants in D.C. Landlord & Tenant Court Currently about 90% of landlords have representation while fewer than 10% of tenants do [1] Similar program in New York City reduced evictions by 24% [2] Puts the District of Columbia on the path to establishing a ‘Civil Gideon,’ the right to counsel in some civil cases Washington, D.C. - Today, the District of Columbia Council Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety passed their budget report which included a subtitle, “Expanding Access to Justice Act.” This legislation would create a grant program, managed by the DC…
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07 Apr 2017
By cmmcduffie

PRESS RELEASE: McDuffie’s Landmark Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Reform Becomes Law As Congressional Review Period Passes

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Among its many provisions, this new law ends the use of solitary confinement on children; restores judicial discretion for sentencing juveniles; and ensures children age-appropriate confinement Washington, DC – Earlier this week, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie’s Comprehensive Youth Justice Amendment Act of 2016 became official law. Introduced in April 2016 by Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, then-Chairperson of the Committee on the Judiciary, and six of his colleagues, and passed by the full council – unanimously – in October, the law makes landmark reforms to the District of Columbia’s juvenile justice system. “This law makes D.C. safer,” McDuffie said “by changing…
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07 Dec 2016
By cmmcduffie

PRESS RELEASE: Council Passes McDuffie Bills to Help Working People, Limit Corporate Campaign Contributions and Ensure Fairness to Returning Citizens

Media Advisory, ,
Washington, DC – Today, the D.C. Council passed on first reading four bills reflecting Councilmember McDuffie’s priorities for working people, families and returning citizens. Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act of 2016 [Bill 21-415] This legislation would provide eight weeks of paid family leave for parents to bond with newborn or adopted children, six weeks to care for an ailing parent or family member, and up to two weeks leave for a personal serious health condition. Upon passage at first reading, Councilmember McDuffie remarked: “This bill, while not perfect, is a step forward for workers in the District. Ward 5 suffers…
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30 Nov 2016
By cmmcduffie

PRESS RELEASE: McDuffie Sends Housing and LGBT Rights Legislation to Full Council

Media Advisory, , ,
McDuffie Sends Housing and LGBT Rights Legislation to Full Council Trio of Bills Will “Ban the Box” in Housing; Legalize Surrogacy Agreements; and Recognize Gender Identity on Death Certificates Washington, DC – Today, the Committee on the Judiciary of the D.C. Council voted unanimously to send three bills to the full Council. Fair Criminal Record Screening for Housing Act of 2016 [B21-0706] This bill – often called “Ban the Box for Housing” – prohibits housing providers from considering prior arrests that did not result in convictions when evaluating an applicant for tenancy. The bill also prohibits a housing provider from…
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25 Oct 2016
By cmmcduffie

D.C. Comprehensive Youth Justice Amendment Act

Media Advisory,
Building a Model Juvenile Justice System in the District of Columbia The “Comprehensive Youth Justice Amendment Act of 2016” makes sweeping reforms to the District of Columbia’s juvenile justice system. This legislation was passed unanimously by the D.C. Council in fall 2016 and became D.C. law #21-0238 in April 2017. It is fitting that this legislation was coming before the Council in October 2016, which President Obama has declared National Youth Justice Awareness month. Just as President Obama said in his proclamation: Too often in America, young people are not afforded a second chance after having made a mistake or…
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05 Oct 2016
By cmmcduffie

McDuffie’s Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Bill Advances to the Full Council

Media Advisory,
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary voted unanimously to send the “Comprehensive Youth Justice Amendment Act of 2016” to the full Council for the first of two votes. Introduced in April by Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chairperson of the Committee, and six of his colleagues, the bill makes landmark reforms to the District of Columbia’s juvenile justice system. “This innovative legislation will help keep our children out of the justice system, reduce overincarceration, ensure age-appropriate sentencing, improve conditions of confinement, and expand oversight. Giving young people a meaningful opportunity for rehabilitation not only improves their lives,…
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17 May 2016
By cmmcduffie
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DC Council’s Budget Delivers Important Wins for Ward 5

Media Advisory, , , , ,
Today, the Council of the District of Columbia took its first vote on the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget. Importantly, the Council’s budget delivers significant investment in Ward 5 and maintains Councilmember McDuffie's pledge to return funds to several public safety programs such as restoring the more than $5 million in cuts to social and legal services for victims of crime, including domestic violence, sexual assault victims and abused and neglected children.  Moreover, the Council’s budget provides the capital necessary to implement the plan to close DC General but does so by using District owned facilities, ensuring that the sites are…
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