Liberal policies gone wrong? A murderer released early under a Washington D.C. “criminal justice reform” measure has been convicted of another killing, raising alarming questions about Democrat-backed efforts that prioritize criminals over public safety.
At a Glance
- Darrell Moore, released early through D.C.’s Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA), committed another murder just six months after his release
- Moore had originally been sentenced to 66 years to life for a 1995 murder during a robbery
- The IRAA allows early release for felons who were under 25 when committing their crimes and have served at least 15 years
- 368 of nearly 600 eligible felons have been released since the law’s 2016 passage, with 11 reoffending
- Liberal Judge Robert Okun has released multiple violent offenders who later faced new murder charges
Second Chances Lead to Second Murders
A Washington D.C. man granted an early release from prison under a liberal criminal justice reform law has been convicted of another murder, highlighting the deadly consequences of Democrat-backed policies that put criminals back on the streets. Darrell Moore, convicted of murder in 1995, was freed in 2020 under the city’s controversial Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA) after serving just 25 years of his original 66-years-to-life sentence.
Just six months after his release, Moore murdered again, leaving another victim dead and crushing any argument that he had been “rehabilitated” during his time behind bars. The case represents exactly what tough-on-crime advocates have warned about for years – that releasing violent offenders early puts innocent Americans at risk.
Who could have predicted that? Apart from…everybody with a brain?
The IRAA, passed by D.C.’s Democrat-controlled council in 2016, allows for early release of violent felons who committed their crimes before turning 25 years old, have served at least 15 years in prison, and have had minimal infractions while incarcerated. The law has been controversial from the start, with critics pointing out it prioritizes the freedom of convicted killers over public safety concerns.
Despite these warnings, liberal judges have continued releasing violent criminals back into communities. Moore’s case is particularly egregious – he had been sentenced to over six decades in prison for a murder committed during a robbery in 1995, yet was deemed suitable for what Obama-appointed Superior Court judge Robert Okun called “compassionate release.” The compassion, unfortunately, wasn’t extended to Moore’s future victim.
Pattern of Failure
Moore’s case isn’t an isolated incident. Since the IRAA’s implementation, 368 of nearly 600 eligible felons have been released early. While advocates tout that only 11 have reoffended, that statistic provides little comfort to the families of their new victims. Judge Okun, who released Moore, has shown a disturbing pattern of putting violent offenders back on the streets with devastating consequences.
Another felon released by Okun, Michael Garrett, was later arrested for the murder of Sylvia Matthews in 2021. Garrett had been freed despite strong opposition, once again demonstrating how liberal judges prioritize the “rehabilitation” narrative over concrete evidence and public safety concerns. These cases illustrate the predictable consequences of soft-on-crime policies championed by Democrats across major American cities.
