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House passes bill to block DC from changing sentencing laws

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton calls the DC CRIMES Act "radical, undemocratic, and paternalistic."

WASHINGTON — After an electronic roll call vote Wednesday evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the HR 118-479 The DC CRIMES Act 225 to 181.

Critics said the bill threatens to take away the District's authority to increase or decrease penalties for any violations of local laws. Remember, because D.C. is not a state, Congress has power over the District.

The D.C. Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safer (CRIMES) Act, takes aim at the Youth Rehabilitation Act of 1985. The law allows judges to impose shorter or alternative sentences - like probation or time in a treatment facility - for anyone under 25 years old. It also sets aside convictions if that sentence is completed. The idea is to offer the young person a chance at rehabilitation. The only exception: If that youth offender is charged with murder or sexual abuse. The CRIMES Act would set age 18 as the upper limit for eligibility.

The CRIMES Act, introduced by Florida Republican Byron Donalds, would also permanently prohibit DC Council from passing legislation that changed sentencing laws in the future.

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton strongly opposes the bill. She's calling on House leaders to vote down the bill, calling it "radical, undemocratic, and paternalistic."

"The bill would remove D.C.’s authority to increase or decrease criminal penalties for violations of its own local laws and could be construed to prevent D.C. from establishing any new crimes in the future. Passage and enactment would be the most substantial rollback of D.C.’s authority to govern itself in 30 years," Norton said in a statement Tuesday ahead of the vote

In fact, President Joe Biden said if the CRIMES ACT was enacted, the District would not have passed the Secure DC Omnibus. 

In a statement the President said, "The D.C. CRIMES Act of 2024 is a counterproductive and a destructive invasion of the District’s right to self-governance and would impede public safety and crime reduction. This bill highlights why the District of Columbia should have statehood."

Other District leaders pushed back against the bill. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, alongside Mayor Muriel Bowser and Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Wednesday. In the letter, leaders point to several pieces of legislation aimed at fighting crime and gun violence in the District.

The letter says violent crime has decreased by 25% from this time last year, and property crime is down 14%. Leaders say if the CRIMES Act passes, it will prevent the Mayor and DC Council from taking steps to address dynamic crime trends.

“Congress cannot have it both ways – they cannot both criticize DC’s crime rate and then block our every attempt to reduce crime,” said Attorney General Brian Schwalb. “If passed, this bill would prevent DC leaders from taking critical steps needed to improve public safety and protect District residents – including efforts to increase criminal penalties or create new categories of offenses."

The bill now moves to the Senate.

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