D.C.'s bill to end solitary confinement is running out of time

There is a bill before the D.C. Council that would end solitary confinement in the District's jails. It was introduced on January 6, 2025, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety on January 21. It has sat there ever since. 

Originally introduced by Councilmember Mary Cheh in 2022, the bill has been re-introduced in subsequent sessions (including as Bill B25-0541 and Bill B26-0028 in 2025) with backing from multiple D.C. Council members and advocacy groups. In 2025, Councilmember Brianne Nadeau introduced the ERASE Act (B26-0028) with six colleagues, and the Unlock the Box DC coalition helped write it. IAHR is a partner in the Unlock the Box campaign, and we want this bill heard. 

What to Know Before November

If you've been convicted of a felony in Virginia, you already know your right to vote doesn't come back automatically the day you walk out. What you might not know is that it's already shifting this year. In January, a federal court ruled Virginia can only strip voting rights for the narrower set of crimes that counted as felonies back in 1870. Which means some people convicted of other felonies are eligible to vote right now, without ever applying to the governor. And this November, Virginians will vote on a constitutional amendment that would make rights restoration automatic for everyone once they've served their time. Some of what's true for you may already have changed.

IAHR is setting out to build formal reentry partnerships this year in DC, Maryland, & Virginia.