WASHINGTON — Resources and consequences -- that was the the response from some District leaders after police say a 13-year-old was shot and killed when he allegedly tried to carjack a man over the weekend.
On Monday, D.C. City Administrator Kevin Donahue announced the "soft launch" of the new “211 Warmline,” which will be a call center for families, guardians and anyone else looking for help with a child or family need. Starting in 2024, that same line will be a resource for concerns about imminent gun violence threats to children.
Departments have also rolled out a school curriculum for fifth and seventh graders called "Too Good for Violence."
Mayor Muriel Bowser also said Monday that some kids – especially repeat offenders – need to be held in detention when they’re arrested instead of being sent to shelters or allowed to go home. WUSA9 was told that was the case with a 16-year-old with pending charges who was released and killed in a crash involving carjacked vehicles.
"Obviously, we want to support families who have children who they can't manage," Bowser said, adding that a child in the juvenile justice system "may be better off in a secure environment" rather than being sent to a District-run youth shelter or allowed to go home.
A spokesperson for the court told WUSA9 judges have to follow the DC Council’s guidelines to determine what’s best for the community and the child when making detention decisions.