DC's U.S. Attorney advocates for the abolition of lenient juvenile crime legislations, addressing Council members directly.
In a move to address the rising concern over youth crime in the District, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has urged the D.C. council to reconsider three key laws that she believes are too lenient on young offenders.
Pirro's campaign includes targeting the Youth Rehabilitation Act, which provides alternatives to incarceration for offenders under 25. She argues that this law allows violent youth offenders to escape serious consequences, such as arts and crafts programs instead of adult penalties.
Another law under scrutiny is the one preventing the charging of juveniles as adults before age 18. Pirro and the Trump administration advocate lowering the age to 14 for certain charges, allowing harsher adult penalties for serious offenses like assault and homicide.
The third law under review are restrictions on reducing criminal sentences by the D.C. Council. Rep. Byron Donalds has reintroduced legislation to prohibit the council from lowering criminal sentences, aiming to ensure offenders receive appropriate punishment without political interference.
Pirro's rationale is that existing laws result in minimal consequences for serious violent acts committed by juveniles, emboldening offenders who "know nothing ever happens to them." She cites cases of teens committing shootings and receiving probation rather than prison, and data showing dozens of youths shot and killed in D.C. over recent years as evidence that current policies fail to protect public safety.
Meanwhile, the mayor's office continues its efforts to drive down crime and make the city safer. Through collaborative efforts, the violent crime in the District has been driven down by 26% compared to the previous year. The Metro PD has not been briefed on any plan to increase federal law enforcement presence on the streets of the district, as suggested by the White House.
Residents of D.C. have expressed concerns that the decrease in violent crime is not enough. The Trump Administration and the MPD are reportedly considering increasing law enforcement efforts due to the violence in the city. The mayor's office is working to ensure residents and visitors feel safe throughout the District.
Judge Jeannine Pirro emphasizes the importance of prosecuting young offenders to make the streets safe, despite her office not prosecuting juveniles. She believes that these changes will have an immediate impact on reducing crime and making the city safer. Pirro has stated her intention to "clean up D.C."
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/us-attorney-jeanine-pirro-urges-d-c-council-to-drop-laws-that-she-believes-are-making-youth-crime-worse/2021/04/21/82199190-018b-11eb-a1cb-33e0a86e098a_story.html [2] https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/us-attorney-jeanine-pirro-urges-d-c-council-to-drop-laws-that-she-believes-are-making-youth-crime-worse/2706716/ [3] https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/us-attorney-jeanine-pirro-urges-d-c-council-to-drop-laws-that-she-believes-are-making-youth-crime-worse/65-f927c8a1-2f0e-4111-a14f-a469a6425786 [4] https://www.fox5dc.com/news/us-attorney-jeanine-pirro-urges-d-c-council-to-drop-laws-that-she-believes-are-making-youth-crime-worse
- Judge Jeannine Pirro, in her campaign for stricter youth crime policies, has advocated for reconsideration of certain laws in the realm of policy-and-legislation, specifically the Youth Rehabilitation Act, laws preventing the charging of juveniles as adults, and restrictions on reducing criminal sentences.
- In conjunction with the Trump Administration's push for crime-and-justice reform, Pirro and others aim to alter these laws to impose harsher penalties on serious offenses, arguing that current policies and general-news about violent acts committed by juveniles suggest a need for a shift in politics.
