Taxation Without Representation
DC is the only jurisdiction in the country where parole decisions are made by a federal agency, the US Parole Commission (USPC), rather than a local board. This means DC residents have no vote or say in who sits on the board that decides when their neighbors come home.
Arbitrary Denials
The USPC routinely denies parole to individuals who have served decades in prison and have perfect disciplinary records, often citing the "nature of the offense"—a factor that never changes.
The Set-Off Game: The USPC often grants "set-offs," delaying parole hearings
for 3-5 years at a time, effectively turning indeterminate sentences into life sentences.