TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Caption
2. Motion for Furlough / Temporary Release
3. Defendant/Inmate Information
4. Grounds for Furlough
5. Statutory Authority
6. Proposed Conditions of Furlough
7. Risk Assessment
8. Supporting Documentation
9. Proposed Order
10. Certificate of Service
11. D.C.-Specific Practice Notes

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

CRIMINAL DIVISION

MOTION FOR FURLOUGH / TEMPORARY RELEASE

COMES NOW the Defendant, [________________________________], by and through undersigned counsel, and respectfully moves this Honorable Court to grant furlough or recommend temporary release from custody pursuant to D.C. Code §§ 24-251.01 through 24-251.05, and in support thereof states as follows:

I. DEFENDANT/INMATE INFORMATION

II. GROUNDS FOR FURLOUGH

The Defendant respectfully requests furlough on the following grounds (check all that apply):

☐ Resocialization Furlough — The Defendant seeks furlough to maintain community and family ties as part of resocialization.

☐ Medical Emergency / Bereavement — The Defendant seeks to visit the bedside of a dying relative or attend a funeral.

☐ Family Emergency / Death — A member of the Defendant's immediate family is critically ill or has died.

☐ Employment / Job Search — The Defendant seeks furlough to search for or maintain employment.

☐ Educational Enrollment — The Defendant seeks furlough to enroll in or attend educational programs.

☐ Housing Placement / Reentry Planning — The Defendant seeks furlough to secure housing and plan for reentry.

☐ Community/Religious/Social/Civic Activities — The Defendant seeks to participate in approved activities.

☐ Rehabilitation Program — The Defendant seeks to participate in a community-based program.

☐ Childcare / Family Responsibility — The Defendant is the primary caregiver for minor children.

☐ Other — [________________________________]

Factual Basis

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

III. STATUTORY AUTHORITY

A. D.C. Code §§ 24-251.01 to 24-251.05

The D.C. furlough statute authorizes the Director of the Department of Corrections to extend the limits of confinement for eligible residents for specified purposes including:

• Resocialization
• Visiting the bedside of a dying relative
• Attending a funeral
• Employment or job search
• Educational enrollment
• Housing placement and reentry planning
• Participation in approved family, community, religious, educational, social, civic, and recreational activities

B. Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum custody status required
• Responsible attitudes and behavior demonstrated in the institution
• Favorable recommendation by institutional review committee (where applicable)
• Mentally, physically, and financially capable of completing furlough without escort or assistance
• Disqualifying offenses: Specified murder and certain sexual offenses are disqualifying except when the resident is within 12 months of a firm release date

C. Frequency Limitations

• Residents within 12 months of a firm release date or in approved work training/higher education: 1 furlough per month
• All other eligible residents: 1 furlough every 3 months

D. Duration

Furloughs longer than 12 hours may be granted by the Director for no longer than 72 hours.

E. Recent Amendments

• D.C. Law 24-344 (Apr. 21, 2023) amended multiple sections
• D.C. Law 26-106 effective Mar. 24, 2026
• Emergency Act 26-288 effective Mar. 30, 2026

IV. PROPOSED CONDITIONS OF FURLOUGH

Additional Conditions

☐ The Defendant agrees to be advised in writing of furlough conditions and to sign a furlough release authorization form.

☐ The Defendant agrees to carry the authorization on their person at all times while on furlough.

☐ The Defendant agrees that willful failure to remain within extended limits or failure to return shall be treated as escape.

☐ The Defendant agrees to return to the facility by [__/__/____] at [____] hours.

☐ Other conditions: [________________________________]

V. RISK ASSESSMENT

A. Flight Risk Assessment

The Defendant presents a [____] (low/moderate) flight risk based on:

• Community ties in D.C.: [________________________________]
• Family connections: [________________________________]
• Remaining sentence: [________________________________]
• Minimum custody status achieved: ☐ True ☐ False
• No history of escape: ☐ True ☐ False

B. Public Safety Assessment

• Nature of underlying conviction: [________________________________]
• Not convicted of disqualifying offenses (or within 12 months of firm release): ☐ True ☐ False
• Rehabilitation progress: [________________________________]

C. Institutional Behavior Record

• Current custody status: [________________________________]
• Demonstrated responsible attitudes and behavior: [________________________________]
• Institutional review committee recommendation: ☐ Favorable ☐ Pending ☐ N/A
• Mentally, physically, and financially capable: ☐ True ☐ False
• Disciplinary record: [________________________________]
• Program participation: [________________________________]

VI. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

☐ Exhibit A — Medical records or bereavement verification

☐ Exhibit B — Death certificate or terminal illness documentation

☐ Exhibit C — Employment verification letter

☐ Exhibit D — Educational enrollment documentation

☐ Exhibit E — Housing placement documentation

☐ Exhibit F — DOC disciplinary/behavior record

☐ Exhibit G — Institutional review committee recommendation

☐ Exhibit H — Sentence calculation showing firm release date

☐ Exhibit I — Furlough release authorization form

☐ Exhibit J — Victim notification confirmation (if applicable)

☐ Exhibit K — [________________________________]

VII. CONCLUSION

WHEREFORE, the Defendant respectfully requests that this Honorable Court:

1. Grant this Motion for Furlough / Temporary Release;
2. Enter the attached Proposed Order;
3. Direct the D.C. Department of Corrections to facilitate the furlough; and
4. Grant such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.

Respectfully submitted,

[________________________________]
Attorney for Defendant
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
D.C. Bar No.: [________________________________]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

PROPOSED ORDER GRANTING FURLOUGH

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA — CRIMINAL DIVISION

Case No.: [________________________________]

Upon consideration of the Defendant's Motion for Furlough and the Court finding good cause shown pursuant to D.C. Code §§ 24-251.01 to 24-251.05, it is hereby:

ORDERED that the Defendant, [________________________________], DOC No. [________________________________], is granted furlough from [__/__/____] to [__/__/____], subject to the following conditions:

1. The Defendant shall be advised in writing of all furlough conditions and shall sign a furlough release authorization form.
2. The Defendant shall carry the authorization on their person at all times.
3. The Defendant shall reside at [________________________________].
4. The Defendant shall not leave the District of Columbia without prior authorization.
5. Willful failure to remain within extended limits or failure to return shall be treated as escape.
6. The Defendant shall return to [________________________________] no later than [__/__/____] at [____] hours.
7. Time spent on furlough shall be credited toward the Defendant's sentence.
8. Additional conditions: [________________________________]

SO ORDERED this [____] day of [________________________________], 20[____].

________________________________________
JUDGE, SUPERIOR COURT

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on [__/__/____], a true and correct copy of the foregoing Motion for Furlough and Proposed Order was served upon:

☐ Office of the United States Attorney / Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
Address: [________________________________]

☐ D.C. Department of Corrections
Address: [________________________________]

☐ Warden, [________________________________] Correctional Facility
Address: [________________________________]

☐ Victim(s) / Victim's representative (if applicable)
Address: [________________________________]

☐ By U.S. Mail, postage prepaid
☐ By hand delivery
☐ By electronic filing/service

________________________________________
Attorney for Defendant

D.C.-SPECIFIC PRACTICE NOTES

Granting Authority: The Director of the Department of Corrections (or designee) has authority to grant furloughs.

Duration: Furloughs longer than 12 hours may be granted for no longer than 72 hours.

Frequency:
- Within 12 months of firm release date or in approved programs: 1 per month
- All other eligible residents: 1 every 3 months

Eligibility: Minimum custody status required. Responsible institutional behavior demonstrated. Favorable recommendation from institutional review committee. Mentally, physically, and financially capable of completing furlough unescorted. Specified murder and certain sexual offenses are disqualifying unless within 12 months of firm release date.

Good Time Credits: Time spent on furlough is credited toward the remainder of the sentence. Furlough status does not preclude the earning of good time or pay. This is explicitly stated in the statute.

Escape Provision: Willful failure to remain within extended limits or failure to return may be treated as escape under D.C. law.

Authorization Form: The resident must be advised in writing of furlough conditions and must sign a furlough release authorization form. The authorization must be carried at all times during furlough.

Recent Legislative Changes: D.C. Law 24-344 (Apr. 21, 2023) amended multiple sections. D.C. Law 26-106 effective Mar. 24, 2026. Emergency Act 26-288 effective Mar. 30, 2026.

This template is provided by ezel.ai for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Laws and regulations change frequently. Always verify current D.C. Code provisions before filing.