Policy Matters
December 2025
More Than Laws: The Hidden Policies That Define Reentry
When most people hear the word policy, their minds jump straight to the D.C. Council or the halls of Congress. They imagine lawmakers debating amendments and voting on bills that eventually become law. And yes, this legislative work absolutely falls within the world of policy.
But limiting “policy” to what happens in legislative chambers misses the bigger picture. If we want meaningful change for returning citizens, we can’t only look to laws. We must look at the multitude of other policies—big and small, official and unofficial—that shape a person’s chances of rebuilding their life. Many of these never appear on a voting calendar.
At its core, policy is simply a formally adopted plan of action. Governments create policy through statutes and regulations. But governments are far from the only institutions whose policies matter. For returning citizens navigating the first days, weeks, and months after release, the policies of nonprofits, housing providers, employers, and community institutions can be just as impactful…sometimes more.
Consider nonprofits that claim to support returning citizens. A workforce program may publicly promote job readiness and second chances, yet quietly refuse participants with violent or sexual convictions. A housing provider may discuss understanding reentry, but then enforce rigid policies that overlook the reality of juggling work schedules, probation requirements, childcare, and transportation. These organizations express compassion in mission statements, but their policies often reveal an asterisk.
Businesses are no different. Companies have official policies—and unofficial ones. A national employer may proudly call itself a “Fair Chance” company because of the praise that label earned them in 2020. On paper, anyone with a record is welcome to apply. In practice, store managers may have an unspoken rule: “We don’t actually hire people with certain convictions.” When the outcomes never match the official policy, the unofficial one is usually doing the real work.
For returning citizens, especially those newly home, these non-governmental policies shape daily life far more than legislation. They determine who gets housing, who gets a job, who receives services, and who falls through the cracks. Advocates who want to create real change cannot limit themselves to the legislative process. We must also challenge, influence, and reform the institutional policies that govern how returning citizens are treated every single day.
The good news? These policies can be easier to change. They aren’t bound by legislative calendars or political negotiations. If you can reach the right decision-makers, you can change the policy. You can open a door that has quietly been shut for years.
At the National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens, we take a wide-angle view of the policy landscape. We recognize the need to advocate in council chambers, yes—but also in boardrooms, offices, and community spaces where unofficial rules and internal guidelines often decide a returning citizen’s fate.
Every system a returning citizen navigates sets rules that can open doors or close them — and that’s why policy matters.
June 2025
This year’s D.C. budget season is already off to an unusual and troubling start. The Mayor submitted her proposed budget late, compressing the timeline for Council oversight and community response. But even in its early stages, one thing is clear: it’s shaping up to be a challenging year for D.C.’s returning citizens.
The Mayor’s budget proposes to dismantle the Office of Returning Citizen Affairs (ORCA), the nation’s first legislatively mandated returning citizen’s office, rolling it into the Executive Office of the Mayor while cutting its funding by nearly 36%. ORCA was established to be an independent, public-facing agency dedicated to supporting returning citizens. It was designed as an office with both a distinct mission and accountability to the community it serves. Merging it into the Mayor’s Office strips away that independence and threatens the tailored services and trust that ORCA has worked to build.
Meanwhile, the Department of Corrections (DOC) faces deep capital budget cuts of over 55%, effectively defunding the long-overdue replacement of the Central Detention Facility. This aging, crumbling jail has been the site of persistent maintenance failures, health hazards, and tragic outcomes. Backing away from the current plan to replace it represents more than a broken promise. It’s a step backward for public health and safety.
However, there are a few rays of sunshine visible through the clouds.
Despite broader cuts to the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG), funding for reentry grants saw a modest increase. These grants are the backbone of services provided by organizations like ours, supporting job readiness programs, peer mentorship, transportation assistance, and case management. While the increase may be small, it’s a lifeline in a time of growing need.
Even more encouraging: the Committee on Housing took a strong stand by voting to preserve ORCA’s independence and restore its FY25 funding levels. That’s a critical first step, but the fight isn’t over. The full Council must still vote to adopt the Committee’s recommendations. Until then, the future of ORCA and the District’s commitment to reentry remains uncertain.
In times of economic strain, returning citizens too often fall to the bottom of the priority list, despite being among the most vulnerable to those very conditions. Their voices and the voices of those who love and support them must be part of the budget conversation. Now more than ever, we need to speak up about the importance of reentry investments and demand a budget that reflects the values of justice, safety, and opportunity for all.
Because a truly safe and thriving city doesn’t forget those coming home. It welcomes them.
OVER THE WEEKEND, A MAJOR POLICY VICTORY THAT THE NATIONAL REENTRY NETWORK FOR RETURNING CITIZENS HELPED CHAMPION WENT INTO EFFECT-THE SECOND CHANCE AMENDMENT ACT OF 2022. THIS LAW SIMPLIFIES AND EXPANDS RECORD SEALING IN DC, REMOVING BARRIERS TO HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND EDUCATION FOR JUSTICE-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS.
WHILE THIS IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD, OUR WORK ISN’T DONE. LONG WAITING PERIODS AND UNNECESSARY EXCLUSIONS LIMIT THE LAW’S FULL POTENTIAL. IF SEALING RECORDS HELPS REDUCE RECIDIVISM (WHICH IT DOES), WHY NOT APPLY IT MORE BROADLY-EVEN FOR SERIOUS OFFENSES? SHOULDN’T WE BE MOST FOCUSED ON REDUCING THE LIKELIHOOD OF THOSE CRIMES HAPPENING AGAIN? IF THIS TOOL WORKS, WE SHOULD USE IT WHERE IT MATTERS MOST.
LET’S CELEBRATE THIS WIN, BUT ALSO PUSH FOR FURTHER CHANGE. SPREAD THE WORD! IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RECORD, VISIT DCJUSTICELAB. ORG/DC-EXPUNGEMENT TO LEARN MORE.
