DC Department of Corrections

What DC Department of Corrections does

The DC Department of Corrections is a public safety agency within the District of Columbia government, operating the city's only correctional facilities — the Central Detention Facility (CDF), Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF), Central Cell Block (CCB), and a contracted residential reentry facility at Fairview (FRRC). Its mandate is to provide secure detention and to deliver rehabilitation, education, mental health, and substance abuse treatment, with the explicit goal of reducing recidivism through programs such as the Maya Angelou Academy @ DC Jail, Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT), the Young Men Emerging (YME) program, the Transitional Assistance Program (TAP), and the Women's Better and Beyond Program. Core services to inmates, families, attorneys, and victims include video visitation (with satellite stations at three DC Public Library branches and a recreation center), inmate telephone services through OffenderConnect, automated inmate deposits, the VINE automated victim notification system, the READY Center reentry hub, an online attorney comment form, and ADA reasonable accommodation services.

Underlying technology consists of a government corrections management system with inmate tracking, GTL/Viapath tablets issued to every resident at intake, the VINE notification system, and DC Public Library integration for video visitation. The agency does not operate a commercial revenue model; it is funded entirely through District of Columbia appropriations and is governed by Mayor Muriel Bowser's administration, with oversight through periodic budget and performance hearings. It operates within a dense partner ecosystem of more than twenty documented partner agencies and community organizations — including the DC Departments of Behavioral Health, Employment Services, Human Services, Motor Vehicles, and Behavioral Health; MORCA; OSSE; DC Public Library; Unity Healthcare; Maya Angelou Schools/See Forever Foundation; Aramark; Catholic Charities; and university partners (Ashland, Georgetown, Howard, UDC-CC) — that co-locate or contract services inside facilities and at the READY Center. Compliance credentials include ACA reaccreditation (passed with high marks in October 2022) and ongoing PREA audits across all facilities.

Name

DC Department of Corrections

Legal name

DC Department of Corrections

Website

https://doc.dc.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The DC Department of Corrections is the District of Columbia's public safety agency operating the city's jail and reentry facilities, providing secure detention plus rehabilitation, education, mental health, and reentry programs to inmates, their families, victims, and returning citizens, funded through DC government appropriations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corrections and Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Correctional Institutions (922140), Parole Offices and Probation Offices (922150)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Adult Corrections (Prisons & Jails) (BPAIAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Corrections (Probation, Parole & Reentry) (BPAIAFAE), Correctional Facility Operations (Prisons & Jails) (BPAKANAA), Correctional Health, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (In-Custody) (BPAKANAG), Forensic & Correctional Behavioral Health Services (HLAFACAM)

Keywords

• Corrections services
• Inmate rehabilitation
• Reentry services
• Victim notification
• Detention facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DC Department of Corrections operates secure detention facilities (Central Detention Facility, Correctional Treatment Facility, Central Cell Block, Fairview Residential Re-Entry Center) and delivers inmate services including video visitation, inmate telephone services, automated inmate deposits, victim notification, legal access, and reentry preparation. The agency also runs educational, substance abuse, mental health, and rehabilitation programs for incarcerated individuals, plus the READY Center one-stop hub for returning citizens.

Product overview

The DC Department of Corrections operates as a public safety agency offering a unified platform of correctional and inmate services rather than a modular product architecture. The core service portfolio includes video visitation, inmate telephone services, automated inmate deposits, victim notification (VINE), and the READY Center for reentry services. Supporting these are specialized programs including the Maya Angelou Academy for education, Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT), the Young Men Emerging (YME) Program for young adults, the Transitional Assistance Program (TAP), and the Women's Better and Beyond Program. The agency also provides the Attorney Comment Form for legal visitor feedback and Reasonable Accommodation services for ADA compliance. These services work together to manage inmate custody, rehabilitation, and successful community reintegration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maya Angelou Academy at DC Jail (MAA@DCJ): Alternative school partnership with Maya Angelou Schools/See Forever Foundation for incarcerated adults ages 18-22 with IEPs, providing high school diploma programs.
• READY Center (Resources to Empower and Develop You)
• Young Men Emerging (YME) Program
• Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT)
• Transitional Assistance Program (TAP)
• Better and Beyond Program

Products and services

• Video Visitation Services Video visitation program allowing family and friends to conduct live video visits with inmates at DC Jail facilities and select community locations including DC Public Library branches (Anacostia Neighborhood Library, Capitol View Library, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library).
• Inmate Telephone Services Telephone services allowing inmates to make and receive calls, with OffenderConnect providing the ability to add funds to inmate phone accounts via credit card.
• Automated Inmate Deposits Finance account management for inmates allowing deposits through Western Union, OffenderConnect, or Inmate Connector Kiosk at the Correctional Treatment Facility lobby.
• Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) Automated victim notification system that informs victims of inmate status changes including release, facility transfer, court hearing, escape, or re-incarceration, administered by DC DOC and contacting registered victims via phone or email.
• The READY Center Consolidated hub where formerly incarcerated District of Columbia residents can access services from multiple government agencies and community organizations for successful reintegration into the community.
• Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Level III Non-Hospital residential substance use treatment program licensed through the Department of Behavioral Health, providing treatment for individuals diagnosed with Substance Use Disorder, Mental Illness, and/or co-occurring disorders.
• Young Men Emerging (YME) Program Housing unit dedicated to young adult offenders ages 18-25, offering education, job and entrepreneurial training, life skills, parenting, college level courses, mentoring, mental health, and financial literacy programs.
• Maya Angelou Academy @ DC Jail Alternative school partnership with Maya Angelou Schools/See Forever Foundation for young adults aged 18-22 with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), providing access to free, restorative, high-quality education and high school diploma pursuit.
• Transitional Assistance Program (TAP) Re-entry program for men preparing returning citizens for society, offering self-help, employment soft skills, job readiness, substance abuse education, GED preparation, art therapy, money management, yoga and meditation, parenting, computer literacy, and vocational training.
• Women's Better and Beyond Program Reentry unit for pretrial and sentenced misdemeanants and designated felons, designed to help reduce recidivism and increase public safety through improved assessment, client motivation, treatment, and program evaluation with gender-specific programming.
• Attorney Comment Form Online feedback system allowing attorneys and legal interns to provide comments and suggestions following visits with inmates, helping improve the efficiency of legal visits.
• Reasonable Accommodation Services ADA-compliant services providing reasonable accommodations for inmates and visitors with disabilities including sign language interpretation and language line access.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maya Angelou Academy enrollment and graduation: FY22: 72 enrolled, 13 diplomas; FY23: 79 enrolled, 6 diplomas; FY24: 119 enrolled, 13 diplomas; FY25: 103 enrolled, 28 diplomas
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• D.C. UnitedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2024The Twinning Project partnership with D.C. United was launched to provide programming and engagement opportunities for incarcerated individuals through sports and related activities.
• DC Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC Public Library partners with D.C. Jail in their Video Visitation program, providing video-visitation stations at Anacostia Neighborhood Library, Capitol View Library, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library for family and friends to connect with inmates.
• Maya Angelou Schools/See Forever FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to operate the Maya Angelou Academy @ DC Jail, an alternative school for young adults ages 18-22 with IEPs, enabling eligible incarcerated individuals to access high-quality education and pursue high school diplomas. Serves both men and women with classes five days a week across approximately 190 instructional days.
• Re-entry Action Network (RAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DC Reentry Action Network (RAN) is the District's leading voice on reentry issues and the only coalition exclusively for reentry service providers and their clients.
• Ashland UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline college courses offered through DOC College and Career Readiness Department. Eligible students are supplied with secured tablets to participate.
• DC Central Kitchen (DCCK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCCK provides food services training and associated life skills to returning citizens.
• DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssesses newly committed female misdemeanants for co-occurring disorder; notifies community core service agencies when clients are incarcerated; makes appointments with core service agencies before returning citizens are released.
• DC Department of Employment Services (DOES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducts 5-week program including job readiness skills building, communications, conflict resolution, anger management, decision making, interviewing, resume preparation, electronic job searches, and training/apprenticeship opportunities. Also operates Work Readiness Program for women in collaboration with DC DOC.
• DC Department of Human Services (DHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnrolls impending returning citizens in SNAP, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and/or Medicaid programs prior to release.
• Mayor's Office on Returning Citizens Affairs (MORCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMORCA provides training and job placement, computer labs, and referrals to reentry-focused services.
• DC Office of the State Superintendent for Education (OSSE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides oversight and funding for GED testing at CDF and CTF and funds UDC to provide short term career training and certification at CTF.
• DC Public Library (DCPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCPL provides a satellite library at CDF and CTF, issues library cards to returning citizens for access to community-based computers, job search and legal assistance. Also provides mobile library services and e-reading, audible, recovery and legal research/law library on tablets.
• Georgetown University School of Law (Street Law)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides information about the justice system, legal rights and returning citizen's role in the community.
• Howard University Inside OutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity students and DOC students learn together in DOC classroom setting about the effects of crime on victims/community/perpetrator, the criminal justice system and related social issues.
• University of the District of Columbia Community College (UDC-CC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUDC-CC partners with DOC and OSSE to provide short term, career-specific credentialed training in Hospitality, Customer Service and Retail Sales.
• Free Minds Book ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree Minds uses books, creative writing, and peer support to empower youth charged as adults for their violent crimes. Provides enrichment services through Maya Angelou Academy.
• Petey Greene ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides tutoring support through the Maya Angelou Academy.
• Unity HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides facility and community medical and mental health care, including vaccine education at intake and by walking the units.
• Catholic Charities-Welcome Home Reentry ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic Charities provides mentoring and community-based reentry services.
• House of RuthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides temporary housing and case management for single women and single women with minor children.
• Salvation Army Harbor LightsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner136-bed facility providing case management, counseling, anger and grief-management, and employment training.
• So Others Might Eat (SOME)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides housing, mental health and substance abuse counseling, vocational training and job placement.
• Thrive DCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen In New Directions (WIND) assists women being released with meals, free showers and laundry, mail, telephone, and email access, personal care and hygiene supplies, health and safety items, transportation and emergency rental assistance, emergency clothing and blankets, and culinary arts training.
• AramarkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood services vendor providing ServSafe certification instruction and testing, commercial driver's education and hospitality and food handling training through Food Handlers Certification program and Hospitality Certification Program.
• Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency providing supervision of adults on probation, parole and supervised release.
• DC Veterans' AdministrationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReentry Specialist regularly comes into the CDF to link veterans to community resources.
• Miriam's KitchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides returning citizens with free mail service and funds to obtain identification.
• Regional Addiction Prevention Inc. (RAP Inc.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssesses and places returning citizens in community-based residential substance abuse treatment, HIV/AIDS care, emergency and transitional housing, and medical services.
• DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency at the READY Center providing ID card and driving record information to returning citizens.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Philadelphia Department of Prisons: Runs the Philadelphia Detention Center and Riverside Correctional Facility. Comparable municipal corrections agency providing adult detention, programming, and reentry support in a mid-large US city.
• Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department - Custody Division: Manages LA County jail facilities (Men's Central Jail, Twin Towers, Century Regional Detention Facility). Direct municipal/county corrections peer operating adult detention, rehabilitation, and reentry programming in a major US jurisdiction.
• Cook County Sheriff's Office (Department of Corrections): Operates Cook County Jail, one of the largest single-site county jails in the US. Provides secure detention, inmate programming, and mental health services comparable to DC DOC's portfolio.
• New York City Department of Correction: Operates the largest municipal jail system in the US (Rikers Island and borough facilities). Direct municipal peer to DC DOC, providing secure detention, rehabilitation programs, and reentry services for a large urban population.
• Harris County Sheriff's Office (Houston): Operates the Harris County Jail, a major urban detention facility. Comparable county corrections operation providing secure detention, inmate services, and rehabilitation programming for a large urban population.

Broad incumbents

• Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal corrections agency operating 122+ facilities. Operates at much larger scale and federal jurisdiction, but shares the same core mission of secure detention, inmate programming, medical/mental health care, and reentry preparation.
• Georgia Department of Corrections: State-level agency managing state prisons, private and county prisons, and detention facilities. Operates at significantly larger scale than DC DOC but addresses analogous inmate services including substance abuse treatment and educational programming.
• Florida Department of Corrections: Third-largest state prison system in the US. Operates a broad portfolio of correctional facilities with rehabilitation, education, and reentry programming, comparable in mission if not scale to DC DOC.
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice: Largest state corrections agency in the US, operating prisons, state jails, and substance abuse treatment facilities. Addresses the same secure detention and rehabilitation mission as DC DOC at much larger scale.
• Massachusetts Department of Correction: State-level corrections agency operating prisons and pre-release facilities across Massachusetts. Broader incumbent operating a wider portfolio than DC DOC's municipal scope, but addressing similar inmate programming and reentry functions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dccorrections
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBmbbdsKBjJXi3JacSVSUNw?feature=watch
• Facebookfacebook.com/dccorrections
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dc-department-of-corrections
• Instagraminstagram.com/dccorrections/?hl=en

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about DC Department of Corrections