The D.C. Council approved legislation that attempts to deter high-profile crimes and punish offenders severely after months of deliberation over the bill's procedures and potential hazards. Following hours of deliberation, the Council approved a measure 12-0 on Tuesday. The measure would establish drug-free zones and enable authorities to get suspects' DNA before condemning them. The vote of council member Trayon White was "present."
"We are a city that is committed to creating opportunity and that believes in second chances, but we will not tolerate violence and we will not tolerate criminal activity that disrupts our sense of safety and our ability to build thriving neighborhoods," Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a news statement.
The U.S. attorney's office also expressed satisfaction with the vote. "The provisions in this bill will provide crucial tools to police and to prosecutors as we collectively work together to hold those who commit crimes in our community accountable," stated a statement from the office. "And we are particularly grateful that the Council listened to our arguments related to DNA collection and developed a compromise position that allows for the earlier collection of DNA."
Politicians tinkered with the law for months, adding, removing, and changing sections that generated a great deal of controversy.
One of the most contentious subjects was the collection of DNA samples from suspects. Councilmember Brooke Pinto modified last month's proposal to include it again. At the time of his arrest, Pinto requested that police collect DNA samples in the same manner that they do fingerprint samples. She connected it to the notion that a suspect's DNA should only be extracted after charges and a finding of reasonable cause by a court.
Additionally, only a limited range of suspects are eligible for swabbing under the new criteria.
The provision's opponent, councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, said, "This amendment would still let about 6,000 people have their DNA taken without having ever been convicted of a single crime."
"Applying this provision means allowing the mass collection of DNA from Black people, many of whom will never be found guilty of the crime for which they were arrested," he said.
An early-morning gathering of seventy-five religious leaders from various religions requested revisions to certain sections of the measure. These contained sections on drug-free zones and pretrial detention.
Last month, the council approved the law for the first time. Its objective was to reduce violent crimes, particularly those involving youths and young adults, such as carjackings and killings. The measure allowing law enforcement to get DNA samples from incarcerated individuals did not include this feature.
The section of the measure that gave the police chief the authority to declare drug-free zones in high-crime areas alarmed people the most.
"The idea of making drug-free zones when the whole city is already a drug-free zone does not solve the problem," said Councilmember Robert White.
Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said on Monday that he believed the measure will include drug-free zones. Now Bowser will sign the invoice.
There are still some issues. The law must still pass Congress, but the Council will also approve an emergency version that includes important provisions that will take effect as soon as the mayor signs it, maybe this week. That emergency legislation would be in effect for ninety days. However, Congress has the power to override the long-lasting legislation. This Thursday, a House committee will examine a measure that would prevent D.C. from amending the present criminal code.
However, many of these new laws included in the crime bill will shortly come into effect, if not permanently. In 2023, gun violence devastated families and neighborhoods in the District, turning it into a crime-ridden place.
During her October testimony before the House Judiciary panel, Lindsey Appiah, the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, referred to the increase in severe crimes in the District as a "crisis."
The Metropolitan Police Department reported that there were 274 murders in 2023, which is 35% higher than in 2022. Theft increased by 67%, property offenses by 24%, and severe crime increased by 39%. Following her appointment as chief of police in July, Pamela Smith said that her first objective was to reduce crime.
"We are a city that is committed to creating opportunity and that believes in second chances, but we will not tolerate violence and we will not tolerate criminal activity that disrupts our sense of safety and our ability to build thriving neighborhoods," Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a news statement.
The U.S. attorney's office also expressed satisfaction with the vote. "The provisions in this bill will provide crucial tools to police and to prosecutors as we collectively work together to hold those who commit crimes in our community accountable," stated a statement from the office. "And we are particularly grateful that the Council listened to our arguments related to DNA collection and developed a compromise position that allows for the earlier collection of DNA."
Politicians tinkered with the law for months, adding, removing, and changing sections that generated a great deal of controversy.
One of the most contentious subjects was the collection of DNA samples from suspects. Councilmember Brooke Pinto modified last month's proposal to include it again. At the time of his arrest, Pinto requested that police collect DNA samples in the same manner that they do fingerprint samples. She connected it to the notion that a suspect's DNA should only be extracted after charges and a finding of reasonable cause by a court.
Additionally, only a limited range of suspects are eligible for swabbing under the new criteria.
The provision's opponent, councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, said, "This amendment would still let about 6,000 people have their DNA taken without having ever been convicted of a single crime."
"Applying this provision means allowing the mass collection of DNA from Black people, many of whom will never be found guilty of the crime for which they were arrested," he said.
An early-morning gathering of seventy-five religious leaders from various religions requested revisions to certain sections of the measure. These contained sections on drug-free zones and pretrial detention.
Last month, the council approved the law for the first time. Its objective was to reduce violent crimes, particularly those involving youths and young adults, such as carjackings and killings. The measure allowing law enforcement to get DNA samples from incarcerated individuals did not include this feature.
The section of the measure that gave the police chief the authority to declare drug-free zones in high-crime areas alarmed people the most.
"The idea of making drug-free zones when the whole city is already a drug-free zone does not solve the problem," said Councilmember Robert White.
Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said on Monday that he believed the measure will include drug-free zones. Now Bowser will sign the invoice.
There are still some issues. The law must still pass Congress, but the Council will also approve an emergency version that includes important provisions that will take effect as soon as the mayor signs it, maybe this week. That emergency legislation would be in effect for ninety days. However, Congress has the power to override the long-lasting legislation. This Thursday, a House committee will examine a measure that would prevent D.C. from amending the present criminal code.
However, many of these new laws included in the crime bill will shortly come into effect, if not permanently. In 2023, gun violence devastated families and neighborhoods in the District, turning it into a crime-ridden place.
During her October testimony before the House Judiciary panel, Lindsey Appiah, the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, referred to the increase in severe crimes in the District as a "crisis."
The Metropolitan Police Department reported that there were 274 murders in 2023, which is 35% higher than in 2022. Theft increased by 67%, property offenses by 24%, and severe crime increased by 39%. Following her appointment as chief of police in July, Pamela Smith said that her first objective was to reduce crime.
