New Halfway House Policy Complicates Defendant’s Release

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 2, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

The Department of Corrections issued new policy regarding halfway housing that complicated a murder defendant’s eligibility for release.

Barbara Sanders is charged with second-degree murder while armed with a knife for allegedly stabbing 59-year-old Thurman Knight on the 500 block of Montana Avenue, NE in March. According to court documents, Sanders, 53, and Knight resided together and were in a romantic relationship.

During a detention hearing July 1, counsel discussed a mandate from the Department of Corrections that stipulated that Sanders couldn’t move into a halfway house because she was charged with a crime of violence within 10-years.

Defense attorney Matthew Davies argued that the current charge should not be used as a “history,” and that the policy has “rewritten the district’s codes on release,” asserting that discretion of the defendant’s placement should be left to the judge. DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe agreed that the mandate was inconsistent with the phrasing of the policy.

A representative from the Department of Corrections explained that current charges were included in the interpretation of the policy for the protection of the members and staff of the house, as well as the public. However, he said the DOC would allow her placement if it was specifically ordered by the judge.

The representative stated that it is DOC’s position that members with criminal violence records shouldn’t be released at all.

Davies raised an alternate solution. He suggested releasing Sanders into the home of her son, his fiancee and teenage children in Northwest DC.

But, the prosecutor raised concern about the safety of the members of the household and the lack of monitoring. Apparently, Sanders son has a criminal record.

On July 2, Judge Iscoe agreed with the prosecution, saying “the safest placement for the community is the halfway house.”

Judge Iscoe previously approved the defendant’s release on June 24 into a halfway house because she didn’t have a criminal history. However, on June 26, an order was filed to stop processing the defendant into a halfway house, according to DC Courts.

Sanders is scheduled for a felony status conference on Aug. 30.