Bill Summary
The "District of Columbia Clemency Home Rule Act" is legislation that empowers the District of Columbia to grant clemency for offenses committed under its laws. Specifically, it allows the authority to grant clemency—defined as a pardon, reprieve, commutation of sentence, or remission of a fine—to be exercised by designated individuals or bodies as determined by local law. The Act clarifies that this new authority does not alter any existing clemency powers held by the President or the Mayor of the District prior to the enactment of local law under this Act. Additionally, it ensures that the clemency authority applies to crimes committed at any time, whether before, on, or after the Act's enactment.
Possible Impacts
The "District of Columbia Clemency Home Rule Act" could affect people in several ways:
1. **Increased Local Control**: By granting the authority to grant clemency to the District of Columbia, this legislation allows local lawmakers and officials to create clemency policies that better reflect the values and needs of the community. This could lead to more tailored responses to criminal offenses, potentially benefiting individuals seeking clemency based on local circumstances or rehabilitation efforts.
2. **Impact on Incarcerated Individuals**: For those currently serving sentences for crimes under the laws of the District of Columbia, this legislation could provide new pathways for clemency. Depending on how local authorities decide to exercise their clemency powers, individuals may have opportunities for reduced sentences, pardons, or other forms of relief that were not available under prior federal oversight.
3. **Legal and Administrative Changes**: The enactment of this law may require the establishment of new legal frameworks and administrative processes within the District of Columbia government for handling clemency requests. This could affect not only individuals seeking clemency but also legal practitioners, advocacy groups, and governmental employees involved in the clemency process, leading to changes in how clemency cases are managed and adjudicated.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5698 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5698
To provide that the authority to grant clemency for offenses against
the District of Columbia shall be exercised in accordance with law
enacted by the District of Columbia.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 6, 2025
Ms. Norton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide that the authority to grant clemency for offenses against
the District of Columbia shall be exercised in accordance with law
enacted by the District of Columbia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``District of Columbia Clemency Home
Rule Act''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO GRANT CLEMENCY FOR CRIMES UNDER LAWS OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
(a) Authority Described.--The authority to grant clemency for
crimes under the laws of the District of Columbia shall be exercised by
such person or persons, and under such terms and conditions, as may be
provided under law enacted by the District of Columbia.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act may be construed--
(1) to affect any authority exercised by the President or
the Mayor of the District of Columbia prior to the effective
date of any law enacted by the District of Columbia pursuant to
this Act with respect to the authority to grant clemency for
crimes under the laws of the District of Columbia; or
(2) to limit the authority described in subsection (a) from
being exercised with respect to crimes committed before, on, or
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Clemency Defined.--In this Act, the term ``clemency'' means a
pardon, reprieve, or commutation of sentence, or a remission of a fine
or other financial penalty.
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