In 1997, the United States Congress enacted the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 (the "Revitalization Act"). This legislation set the stage for major changes to the District's criminal justice system. Among other things, the Revitalization Act mandated:
- Closure of the Lorton Correctional Complex by December 31, 2001;
- Transfer of sentenced felons to the federal Bureau of Prisons, to be housed either in facilities operated by the federal Bureau of Prisons, or in private contract facilities;
- Appointment of a Corrections Trustee, an independent officer of the District of Columbia government, to oversee the financial operations of the District of Columbia Department of Corrections until Lorton's felony population is transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons;
- Transfer of authority for parole matters to the United States Parole Commission, and the abolition of the District of Columbia Board of Parole;
- Appointment of a Court Services and Offender Supervision Trustee, an independent officer of the District of Columbia government, to manage the transition of functions and funding related to pretrial services, legal representation for indigent defendants, parole, adult probation, and offender supervision;
- Establishment of the District of Columbia offender Supervision and Court Services Agency within the executive branch of the federal government which shall provide supervision for District offenders on probation, parole, and supervised release on behalf of the court or agency having jurisdiction over the offender being supervised;
- Direct funding of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and the District of Columbia Court System from the federal government; and
- Establishment of the District of Columbia Truth in Sentencing Commission.
Continue with the history at Truth in Sentencing Commission.