WASHINGTON — After the D.C. jail mistakenly released several inmates, including a D.C. teen charged with killing his girlfriend, the Department of Corrections leadership went before a federal judge Friday to answer for the series of errors.
“We are not here to offer excuses. We apologize for the incident,” said Andrew Saidon with the D.C. Attorney General’s office who is representing the Department of Corrections in federal court.
Saidon was referring to the near release of Jarrell Harris, 23, who faces federal charges and who U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan determined was a threat to public safety. Harris was present at the hearing, which did not address his case but rather the “erroneous releases,” as the judge put it.
But Sullivan reminded the department that multiple inmates have mistakenly been released — or come close to it.
“It’s not rocket science to make sure people aren’t released … This is a public safety issue that this city and the Department of Corrections must resolve,” Sullivan said at the Friday morning hearing. He said the problem is one that has plagued the city for some time.
The federal hearing comes just two weeks after the D.C. jail released Dekale Bowman, 18, charged in the killing of his 16-year-old girlfriend to Prince George’s County to stand for separate charges there, despite his no bond status. Bowman was allowed to post bail in Upper Marlboro and was released from custody before U.S. Marshals caught up with him and arrested him four days later.
Department of Corrections Director Quincy Booth did not attend the hearing due to a prior engagement. The judge expressed his disappointment about Booth’s absence multiple times during the hearing.
Sullivan ordered the Department of Corrections hire an independent consultant to review its record-keeping and policies within the next 30 days, as well as report any inmates who are mistakenly released in that time and the circumstances around their discharge. He also ordered a commitment from the city to fund whatever recommended changes will ensure the system works.
“There are some levels of review that are lacking somewhere,” Sullivan said. “We need some assurances this isn’t going to happen again.”
Sullivan has scheduled a follow-up hearing in federal court to review the department’s status on July 31.
