DC crime in focus on Capitol Hill as district weighs omnibus bill
Crime in Washington, D.C.: Battling the Epidemic
Crime in Washington, D.C., is plaguing everyone from longtime citizens to Capitol Hill lawmakers, and Congress and the D.C. Council, often at odds over the epidemic, are taking matters into their own hands on Tuesday.
The House Oversight Committee will meet in the morning to mark up H.R. 5798, known as the Protecting Our Nation’s Capital Emergency Act of 2023. Later that same day, the D.C. Council will hold its first vote on the Secure DC Omnibus bill, legislation comprised of multiple proposals aimed to address concerns that arose following the passage of prior crime legislation.
Rising Crime Rates
Crime in the district rose significantly in 2023. The year ended with a 26% increase in total crime, with violent crime rising 39% and property crime increasing 24%. The most frequent criminal act in Washington is carjackings, with motor vehicle thefts increasing by a staggering 82% in 2023.
Differing Opinions
Democrats and Republicans in Congress, as well as local leaders in the district, have differing opinions as to the cause of rising crime in the nation’s capital. Councilmembers and Del. Eleanor Norton Holmes (D-DC) blame a long-prejudiced criminal justice system and a lack of statehood that makes the district unable to govern itself under the Home Rule Act of 1973. On the other side, conservatives have used Washington as a poster child for the effects of liberal crime policies, arguing that soft-on-crime rollbacks and measures have directly led to the crime epidemic.
Congressional Oversight
Congress has interfered in several D.C. Council initiatives to address crime, as every law that comes out of Washington is subject to congressional oversight, with varying levels of success.
House Oversight members on Tuesday will look at amending the D.C. Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to restore police provisions that were rolled back by the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022. The members will discuss including Metropolitan Police Department officer union bargaining “in matters of wrongdoing, as well as the timeline under which such discipline must be carried out for alleged wrongdoing.”
“It is the purpose of this Act to combat the rise in violent crime in our Nation’s Capital by eliminating policies which place law enforcement personnel of the District of Columbia at risk and discourage them from serving, ensuring that such personnel will be treated equitably and fairly and the recruitment and retention of such personnel shall be increased,” the bill text reads.
The police reform bill was one of two major pieces of crime legislation that Congress voted to overturn in the spring of 2023, but President Joe Biden vetoed the attempt. The House and Senate also voted to overturn an overhaul of the criminal code, with Biden declining to veto, marking the first time in 30 years that Congress had repealed a local law passed by the D.C. Council.
Local Efforts
At the local level, the Secure DC Omnibus bill takes a stronger approach to juvenile crime and carjackings, as well as allocates provisions back to the police that were removed in the police bill, aligning with the House Oversight resolution, suggesting the council is looking to make the changes on their own without federal interference.
Under the omnibus, it would make it a rule that juveniles will be held in pretrial detention if they are charged with certain violent crimes. Other proposals included in the omnibus bill increase maximum sentences for gun-related crimes from one to five years, expand the definition of a carjacking to make it a crime anytime the victim is not just in their car but in the vicinity of the vehicle as well, and ban mask-wearing for people committing crimes.
Ongoing Challenges
The two legislative processes follow a weekend of violent crime after one district man committed a string of eight crimes over an 11-hour period, including the fatal shootings of two men and the carjackings of multiple vehicles. The suspect, Artell Cunningham, who is now deceased, had previous felony charges, where he threatened to kill police officers, dropped in 2021, and his crime spree occurred nearly two years later to the day.
Juvenile crime in the district is up as well, and leaders such as district Attorney General Brian Schwalb are coming under fire for similar prosecutorial tactics, receiving heavy criticism for declining to prosecute several juvenile cases. Schwalb has actively touted programs of restorative justice and rehabilitation over incarceration, a method preferred by left-liberal prosecutors and officials, and pushed back against tougher detention sentences.
Statistics continue to waiver between an increase compared to this time last year or a slight decrease in criminal activity in the same period. In 2024, there have been 500 reported motor vehicle thefts and 250 robberies, per district crime statistics. Fifty-seven carjackings have been reported so far, with 53% involving guns and only 11 cases solved. According to police, 88% of carjacking offenses have been committed by juveniles, with 100% of them residing in the district.
The House Oversight markup will begin at 10 a.m., and the D.C. Council will meet beginning at 11 a.m.
The Washington Examiner reached out to district Councilwoman Brooke Pinto for comment.
What are the proposed penalties and charges for carjackers under the Secure DC Omnibus bill?
A violent offense and pose a flight risk or a threat to public safety. It also establishes tougher penalties for carjackers, including mandatory minimum sentences and the possibility of charging juveniles as adults in certain cases.
In addition, the Secure DC Omnibus bill aims to address the root causes of crime by investing in community-based programs and resources that provide young people with alternatives to criminal activity. This includes funding for education, job training, mental health services, and after-school programs.
Local leaders believe that these comprehensive measures are necessary to effectively combat the crime epidemic in Washington, D.C. They argue that while there may be differing opinions on the causes of crime, everyone can agree that action needs to be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the district’s residents.
However, the proposed legislation has faced opposition from some community activists and advocacy groups who argue that the focus should be on addressing the underlying social and economic issues that contribute to crime, rather than solely relying on punitive measures.
Moving Forward
The battle against crime in Washington, D.C., is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires collaboration and cooperation from all levels of government and the community. While Congress and the D.C. Council continue to debate and propose new legislation, it is crucial to ensure that the voices of the impacted communities are heard and that the proposed solutions are effective, equitable, and sustainable in the long run.
At the heart of the matter is the need to invest in social and economic opportunities that can provide individuals, particularly young people, with alternatives to crime. By addressing the systemic issues that contribute to criminal behavior, such as poverty, lack of education, and limited job opportunities, it is possible to create a safer and more prosperous Washington, D.C.
Ultimately, the battle against crime in the nation’s capital requires a comprehensive approach that combines effective law enforcement strategies with investments in community-based programs and resources. By working together, federal and local lawmakers, along with community leaders, can make significant strides in ensuring the safety and well-being of all Washington, D.C. residents.
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