Washington Mayor and Council Struggle with Criminal Code Reform.

Mayor Bowser’s New Legislation to Address Rising Crime in D.C.

The Concerns of D.C. City Council

The safety of the public is a top priority for the D.C. City Council. Chairman Phil Mendelson stated that every council member shares Mayor Muriel Bowser’s concerns about the rising crime rate in the district. However, the council and the mayor have not yet agreed on the best way to reduce crime in the city.

The Mayor’s Public Safety Summit

Earlier this year, the council passed the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, but the mayor vetoed it due to concerns about some provisions in the updated code. After the veto, the mayor held a public safety summit with local and federal public safety officials and partners to discuss what improvements need to be made to ensure public safety.

The Mayor’s New Public Safety Bill

Mayor Bowser’s new public safety bill aims to address the gaps in the public safety ecosystem. The bill includes provisions to increase penalties for violent crimes that target residents with physical or mental impairments, expand protections for transit and for-hire vehicle employees, transit passengers, and people at rec centers.

The Council Chairman’s Solution

Council Chairman Mendelson believes that increasing penalties for crimes would not prevent those crimes. Instead, he suggests increasing the case closure rate. According to Metropolitan Police Department’s data, there was a 62 percent closure rate for homicides in 2022. Mendelson subscribes to the theory of swift and certain justice.

The Mayor’s Goal

Mayor Bowser hopes to see her new legislation passed before the Council break. The Metropolitan Police Department reports that violent crime in D.C. is up 14 percent in 2023 compared with the previous year. There has been an 11 percent increase in homicides, a 44 percent rise in sex abuse cases, a 2 percent increase in assaults with a dangerous weapon, and a 20 percent jump in robberies. It is crucial to address these issues and ensure the safety of the public.