January 1, Bipartisan Push Tightens DC Crime Laws

Wyatt’s Take

• Congress works together to fight rising crime in Washington, D.C.
• Key changes target ‘youth offender’ rules and cashless bail policies.
• Some Democrats back tough reforms to avoid being labeled soft on crime.

Lawmakers in Washington are joining forces to change how crime is handled in the nation’s capital. The new moves lower the age for juvenile charges and scrap rules that let repeat offenders out without bail.

Support came from both Republicans and a handful of Democrats, reflecting growing worry about violence in D.C. The law would allow tougher sentences for young offenders and let courts charge those as young as 14 as adults for serious crimes.

U.S. District Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro warned weak laws kept young criminals on the streets. Pirro said some laws “contributed to the scourge of violent crimes from both juveniles and young adults in the nation’s capital.”

Crime studies in the city have often counted those under 24 as juveniles, creating confusion about the real numbers. Some local groups backed less policing and more spending on social programs instead, but rising violence has changed the conversation.

Even some Democrat leaders, like Mayor Muriel Bowser, now say the city needed federal help to get crime under control. Federal agents and National Guard troops provided needed backup during tough times.

Congress is now reviewing more bills to give the federal government a bigger say in how D.C. tackles violent crime and keep police federalized longer. These reforms will soon head to the Senate, where their future is still up in the air.

In August, President Trump announced he would use federal power to restore safety in D.C., saying, “This is Liberation Day in D.C. and we’re going to take our capital back.” He called on lawmakers to make those tough measures stick for the long term.

Pirro criticized the “Youth Rehabilitation Amendment Act” for protecting lawbreakers up to age 24, stating, “I can’t touch them, but they [the D.C. government] want to protect them.” Congress’s latest bills respond directly to her concerns.

The D.C. CRIMES Act sets the age for juvenile charges at 18 instead of 24, while the Juvenile Sentencing Reform Act lets courts treat violent offenders as young as 14 as adults. Both measures have support from both sides of the aisle.

Keep an eye out as the Senate decides what comes next for these crime-fighting reforms.

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Wyatt Matters

This fight is about restoring order so families in Middle America and beyond can feel safe in their communities. Honest people know that tough rules and real accountability are what keep our streets secure.