D.C. Council Delays Nomination Vote for Ex-Con to Sentencing Commission

WASHINGTON -- The District of Columbia Council still is trying to decide whether a former murder convict should be allowed on the city’s criminal sentencing commission.

The Council was ready to vote on the nomination of Joel Caston this month but reconsidered after a complaint from U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves.

Caston spent 27 years in prison after a murder conviction for shooting an 18-year-old man in a parking lot during a dispute. Later he served as a member of the city’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission before getting a D.C. Council nomination to the sentencing commission.

The commission develops and modifies the guidelines used by D.C. Superior Court judges in sentencing criminal convicts.

Graves wrote a letter to D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) saying that Caston is affiliated with a group that seeks easier criminal sentences. He called their objective “decarceration.”

Graves’ concern comes at a time he is under pressure from Congress for what some lawmakers call his lackluster record of prosecutions. Some Republicans said during a recent congressional hearing that Graves appears to contribute to a rise in local crime by not aggressively prosecuting offenders.

Mendelson responded with a letter telling Graves he mistakenly believed Caston would not try to hold offenders responsible for their crimes. He said his experience in prison could add a valuable perspective to the sentencing commission.

“This council, for many years, has been really good about trying to pay attention to what actually works as opposed to rhetoric,” Mendelson wrote.

Nevertheless, he agreed to delay a vote on Caston’s nomination until after the sentencing commission contributes comments.

Additional support for Caston came from Council member Kenyan R. McDuffie (I-At Large), who said Caston had demonstrated his goodwill through his contributions during and after incarceration. They include organizing a mentorship program for incarcerated men.

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