Latest news with #WilliamMarshallIII
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Exclusive Interview With Bureau Of Prisons Director William Marshall
Walt Pavlo spoke with newly appointed Bureau of Prisons Director William Marshall III A New Administration Newly appointed Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director William Marshall III provided an exclusive interview regarding his first 10 weeks in the position and how he is addressing the many challenges facing the Agency. Director Marshall, who formerly headed the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, inherited a BOP office in disarray and void of leadership. Director Colette Peters was dismissed in the opening hours of the Trump administration in January and the acting director named as her temporary replacement announced his retirement shortly after his appointment. Marshall told me, 'We are a different administration from the previous one that did little to move some important initiatives that were started under Donald J. Trump. We intend to fully implement the First Step Act (FSA), something that will be part of this president's legacy on criminal justice reform.' Marshall understands that there have been communication problems within the BOP, which has been a major problem in implementing the FSA. Marshall said that key to the FSA law was returning non-violent offenders back home as soon as possible while focusing on locking those up who pose a threat to society. 'The President and Attorney General Pamela Bondi are committed to Making America Safe Again,' Marshall said. Full Implementation Of First Step Act Successfully implementing the First Step Act (FSA) relies on effectively communicating the program to case managers responsible for overseeing the re-entry plans of inmates nearing release. Under the FSA, eligible inmates can earn up to 15 days off their sentence per month, with a maximum reduction of one year. After reaching this limit, they can earn an unlimited number of days toward home confinement. However, challenges have hindered the program's implementation, primarily due to computer programming issues preventing accurate calculation of sentence reductions under the FSA, as well as a lack of clear guidance for case managers. Marshall stated, "First, our office in Washington is always available, and case managers can call us with any questions. Additionally, we will be soon be hosting a national training event to provide specific guidance on our approach, alongside the directives we've already issued. However, it's important to note that people must be part of the solution to make this Agency great, and I am confident we will achieve that." In speaking with many inmates and their families over the past few weeks, they tell me of signs on case manager doors stating they have no information on the new FSA directive. 'We have to provide clear communication to the field,' Marshall said of such stories, 'We are looking for people [case managers] who are part of the solution to fully implementing FSA.' Families I have spoken to remain skeptical as the BOP has fallen short in providing clarity on its own policies, leading to lawsuits and some people staying in prison longer than the law allows. Many just want to know when their loved one is coming home. One remaining uncertainty is how far the BOP will go in utilizing both the FSA and the Second Chance Act, a law that allows up to one year of prerelease custody. By "stacking" the two programs, inmates could spend more time in the community, searching for job opportunities and reconnecting with their families sooner. However, limited capacity at residential reentry centers (halfway houses) has resulted in many inmates staying in prison longer than necessary. "We need to address this," Marshall said, 'we have halfway house space, but we need to be smarter in how we use it. Ultimately, our goal is to return people to the community who pose no threat to public safety.' Finding The Right People Marshall said he has met with union leadership and staff at a few facilities during his short time at BOP. While he was impressed with many people he met, Marshall said that the Agency is going to change for the better and there is always reluctance to any change. 'Staff have to ask themselves, 'Is this where I want to be?'' Marshall said, 'but I have seen a few of these facilities with my own eyes and there are people here who buy into our mission of safely incarcerating those who are dangerous and returning others to society sooner.' The BOP is represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), a union that represents thousands of BOP employees across the United States. The AFGE advocates for better working conditions, pay, and benefits for federal correctional officers and other BOP staff. In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order using authority granted by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 to end collective bargaining with federal unions in agencies with national security missions, including the Department of Justice, which oversees the BOP. This order effectively removed BOP employees from the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program, stripping unions of their right to negotiate on behalf of employees. The executive order was met with strong opposition from unions representing federal workers, including the AFGE. Unions argued that the order violated First Amendment rights and undermined workers' protections. In response, AFGE and other unions filed lawsuits challenging the legality of the executive order. In June 2025, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of the executive order, stating that the unions were likely to succeed in proving that the order was illegal and violated constitutional rights . 'My question to AFGE when I spoke with their leadership was whether they were sincere about being part of the BOP's success,' Marshall said, 'and the feedback that I got was that they are. We may have differences but we all know the BOP must make significant changes to meet our complex mission of safety and returning better people to society.' Infrastructure And Staffing Two major issues facing the BOP have been its crumbling infrastructure and hiring to fill thousands of open positions. Marshall indicated that Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, which is still being negotiated, provides for billions in infrastructure improvement and for hiring staff. 'I am confident that we will get the support to upgrade our facilities that have been neglected for so long,' Marshall said, 'and we are going to have money for hiring people.' Former Director Peters and her predecessor Michael Carvajal, both went to Congress asking for up to $3 billion to repair existing prison facilities to bring them up to modern standards. Marshall said that the real number could be closer to $4 billion. Under the previous administration, not only did the BOP get only limited funds to prepare its prison facilities but it also operated under a continuing resolution budget that was over 2 years old. Asked whether prisons would be closed as the population of inmates have decreased over the past 10 years. 'We are looking at everything,' Marshall said, 'but we have no announcements to close additional facilities at this time.' Just last week, Marshall announced that a federal prison camp in Morgantown, WV would remain open despite it being on a list set for closure last December. Regarding staffing Marshall indicated that there was going to be an increase in funding for retaining and acquiring new staff. 'Our people are important and we have to be competitive,' Marshall said. Deputy Director Josh Smith Marshall also spoke about the leadership of Deputy Director Josh Smith who was appointed just a few weeks ago. Smith is the highest ranking BOP executive who also had a past felony conviction decades ago. Smith was pardoned by Trump at the end of his first term in office. 'People will see Deputy Director Smith as someone who is committed to BOP staff and their safety,' Marshall said, 'he has a passion and commitment to make the BOP successful and we're lucky to have someone like that here with us.' Some in the BOP, particularly on social media, have been highly critical of Smith, something Marshall said he was aware of. 'Deputy Smith is one of the hardest working people I know and the people in our Agency will see this when they meet him,' Marshall said, 'when I've been with him at facilities there was an eagerness for change and I see in him a confidence to bring about that change.' Following Through Director Marshall is aware of past promises from BOP management and how those have fallen short. Under Director Peters, she promised pushing more people into the community as well but her initiatives were plagued by computer problems, missteps in implementation and a shortage of residential reentry centers. 'We have to do better and I promised that I would not just manage from here in Washington,' Marshall said, 'but I am committed to be out in the field at these facilities so I can give our people the resources they need to complete their mission.'
CBS News
09-06-2025
- CBS News
Bail denied for teen arrested in deadly 2024 Columbia mall shooting
Bail has been denied for a Maryland teen who was arrested in New York for a deadly, 2024 shooting inside The Mall in Columbia, according to Howard County Police. William Marshall III, 18, of Columbia, is accused of shooting and killing 17-year-old Angelo Little on July 27, 2024, at the Mall in Columbia. Marshall was 17 years old at the time. UPDATE: Marshall waived extradition in New York City and had a bail review hearing this morning in Howard County. He was ordered held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center. — Howard County Police Department (@HCPDNews) June 9, 2025 Marshall was arrested in New York on May 28, after a search that lasted several months. Teen arrested for deadly shooting inside Columbia Mall Police said Marshall returned to Howard County last Friday in order to appear for his bail hearing Monday. He is currently being held at the Howard County Detention Center. After the shooting, which happened after an altercation near the mall's food court, police issued a warrant for Marshall's arrest. Authorities said Marshall specifically targeted Little in the attack. Surveillance video released by Howard County Police last year showed Marshall running through several corridors of the mall, including the housekeeping hallway. In addition to the video, police released Marshall's picture. A second post in late May, which recirculated the same video, reminding the public that they were continuing the search for Marshall, led to a public tip that Marshall was staying at an apartment in New York City. Howard County Detectives, U.S. Marshals, and officers from the New York Police Department went to the location in Brooklyn, N.Y., searched the building, and found Marshall in an apartment. Mother of Angelo Little grieves loss Last year, Charell Wilson, Angelo's mother, spoke to WJZ, recounting the moment when she found out her son had been tragically killed. Wilson said she and her son moved to Columbia from East Baltimore in 2014 because she thought it would be safer. She said she did not expect to lose her son to gun violence in Columbia, which is currently experiencing a rise in youth violence. Howard County Police data shows a rising trend in homicides. In February of this year, another shooting at The Mall in Columbia left two teen victims dead – one a sophomore at Wilde Lake High School, and the other a freshman attending Oakland Mills High School. 18-year-old Emmetson Zeah was arrested in connection with the shooting and charged with murder.
Forbes
31-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Prisoners Set Back By Bureau Of Prisons Home Confinement 'Expansion'
Newly appointed Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director William Marshall III wrapped himself in the Trump flag by announcing an expansion of use of home confinement to allow prisoners more time in the community at the end of their prison sentence. Unfortunately, for many in prison the actions by the BOP will lead to longer stays in institutions, which is both more costly and a blow to those trying to get home sooner. The BOP issued a press release on May 28, 2025 touting, 'Federal Bureau of Prisons Issues Directive to Expand Home Confinement, Advance First Step Act.' However, a closer look reveals that this move neither expands home confinement nor advances First Step Act. When Trump signed the First Step Act into law in December 2018, advocates, prisoners and criminal justice reform groups all touted it as a major victory. The law was meant to both reduce the sentences for non-violent prisoners, many of whom are first time offenders, by up to a year and also give them the opportunity to serve more of their sentence under strict conditions in the community. However, the BOP has had a difficult time implementing this law under multiple directors since becoming law. It took over three years for the Department of Justice and BOP to finalize the Final Rule for First Step Act. During that time, thousands of inmates stayed in prison hoping they would receive credits to reduce their sentence. From January 2022 until now, the BOP has taken different positions on the law, leading some to get out of prison too late while others enjoyed the additional credits and were released earlier than anticipated. The BOP initially implemented the First Step Act by capping the credits through a rule that stated no credits could be earned within 6 months of release. BOP then issued a memorandum in March 2025 limiting the amount of halfway house placement for federal inmates from 12 months to 2 months, something central to the Second Chance Act, another hallmark piece of criminal justice reform. Both of these actions were rescinded after outcry from advocacy groups. In September 2024, the BOP implemented a new calculator to anticipate the effects of the First Step Act after other iterations of the calculator proved to be an inaccurate tool. The result was a predictive report that every inmate was given that provided them with a projected date for leaving the institution to live in the community and a release date from BOP custody. The reaction to those in custody and their families was immediate joy, however, that was short lived. The reports reflected 'stacking' the practice of showing the inmate both all of their First Step Act credits and the maximum amount of prerelease custody (12 months) under the Second Chance Act. To date, few inmates ever received the full compliments of these credits and the recent memorandum from Director Marshall upends 'Stacking.' Many people want to know what the new memorandum means and the BOP provided a statement clarifying their rule. When asked whether inmates are still eligible for Second Chance Act placement up to 12 months prior to their FSA conditional placement date, as has been the case, the BOP responded, 'Due to statutory restrictions found in 18 U.S.C. 3624(c)(1), an individual who has earned 365 days (12 months) of First Step Act credits to be applied to prerelease custody cannot receive additional prerelease time under the Second Chance Act.' The BOP's current stance contradicts its position from just a few months ago, when it stated that stacking First Step Act and Second Chance Act benefits was permissible. Now, without addressing its previous position, the BOP asserts that home confinement under the Second Chance Act is only allowed by law during the final 12 months of a prison sentence. Additionally, the BOP claims that home confinement under the First Step Act can only be applied when the First Step Act time credits earned are equal to the remaining length of the prison term. This means an inmate cannot apply First Step Act credits to home confinement while also receiving up to 12 months of prerelease custody (6 months in a halfway house and 6 months in home confinement) under the Second Chance Act. For many inmates, this change means they will have to remain in prison for up to a year longer than they had initially expected. The BOP's statement went on to say, 'For individuals eligible under the First Step Act (18 U.S.C. § 3624(g)), and who are projected to earn at least 365 days (12 months) of time credits for prerelease custody, referrals should be based on credits and the corresponding First Step Act Conditional Placement Date. There is no restriction concerning how many credits may be applied toward home confinement.' Those who earn a year off of their sentence and another year toward home confinement will not receive any Second Chance Act, meaning they will serve a year in a prison that could have been spent in the community. Former BOP Director Colette Peters (fired on January 20, 2025 by Trump), stated in a congressional hearing last year that capacity at BOP halfway houses was capped out. She stated at the time, "So this [halfway house capacity] is almost as significant of a problem as our recruitment and retention crisis and our infrastructure crisis, because as you're aware ... now under the First Step Act, they could spend months or years, and so that has created a substantial backlog in our residential reentry center.' In December 2018, when the First Step Act was signed into law, the residential reentry centers (or halfway houses) had a capacity of 10,500 beds. At that time, it was understood that the law would increase the number of people placed in prerelease custody. However, as of today, the capacity of halfway houses remains largely the same. As a result, those who are eligible for First Step Act credits, which would allow them to return home sooner, now find themselves competing for limited bed space with individuals who have been incarcerated for decades and rely on halfway house resources to reintegrate into society. The intent of the new memorandum was to redirect individuals who do not require halfway house services to home confinement. However, the outcome may be that fewer people are able to leave prison, and those who could have served part of their sentence in the community will end up remaining in prison for a longer period. In his press release about the expansion of halfway house use, Director Marshall said, 'President Trump said he would fight for the forgotten men and women of this country, and the First Step Act proved he meant it. Now, we are ensuring that this reform continues to work—not just as a policy, but as a promise to Americans seeking redemption and a path forward.' This new directive seems counter to Trump's promise.
CBS News
29-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Howard County Police to share update on deadly shooting of teen in Columbia Mall
Howard County Police and U.S. Marshall's are announcing an update in the investigation of a shooting that happened inside The Mall in Columbia last year that left a teen dead. Last summer, police said William Marshall III, 17, of Columbia was wanted for first-degree murder, and related charges in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Angelo Little on July 27. The shooting happened after an altercation near the mall's food court, police said. Marshall, who also goes by "Junior", specifically targeted Little, according to police. Police issue warrant for teen suspect's arrest After the shooting, police circulated a picture of Marshall, asking the public to help aid in the search. Maryland law typically does not allow the release of a juvenile suspect's identification, even when charged; however, exceptions are made in cases where public safety is at risk. In addition to the picture, police also released a video showing Marshall running through several corridors of the mall, including the housekeeping hallway. Police said Marshall was a student at Oakland Mills High School but had not attended school in 2024. Mother grieves loss of 17-year-old Angelo Little After the shooting, Charell Wilson, Angelo's mother, detailed the moment when she learned that her son had been tragically gunned down. "It was like a bad dream I'll never wake up from," Wilson told WJZ. Wilson recalled her last conversation with her son before he left for the mall. She told him to put together a list of things he needed for the start of school. He was preparing to begin his senior year at the Homewood Center in Ellicott City. Wilson said she remembered her son as a "gentle giant" with dreams of becoming a chef. Little loved cooking and would often invite friends over to taste test his creations, she said. She also told WJZ that she was not expecting to lose her son to gun violence in Columbia. Columbia struggles with rise in youth violence Howard County Police data shows a rising trend in homicides. There were five homicides in 2023, and nine in 2024. In Oct. 2024, a 17-year-old student at Howard High School was arrested at school with a loaded firearm in his backpack. He was later charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 26-year-old Kendrick McLellan, whose body was found in a vehicle behind a Columbia office complex. On Feb. 22, 2025, another shooting near the Mall in Columbia left two teens dead. Michael Roberston, 16, was shot and killed around 5:52 p.m. A 15-year-old teen was hospitalized after the shooting and died days later. Roberston was a sophomore at Wilde Lake High School, while the other teen victim was a freshman attending Oakland Mills High School. Police arrested 18-year-old Emmetson Zeah in connection with the incident, charging him with murder. At the time, Zeah was already facing charges for a previous attempted murder and had violated the terms of his home detention. In January, a 17-year-old was fatally shot during an attempted robbery in Columbia. Four suspects, including three teens, were charged in that incident. In April, County Executive Calvin Ball announced the Youth Engagement Strategies Council (YES), aimed at youth engagement and violence prevention.
