Rep. Byron Donalds is leading House Republicans' latest push to impose congressional authority on Washington, D.C. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
It would also prevent the courts from handing down sentences under the minimum statutory requirements for youth offenders, and stop D.C.’s progressive city council from changing what those requirements are.
The bill would also require the D.C. attorney general to keep the public better informed on youth and juvenile crime rates by creating a public website where statistics are readily available.
According to a year-to-date crime comparison provided by the Metropolitan Police Department, homicides in the nation’s capital rose 35% from 2022 to 2023, with the overall rate of violent crime climbing 39%. Robberies increased by 67%, while instances of motor vehicle theft have climbed 82%.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS, CAPITALS PLAN TO DEPART DC AS CRIME CRISIS INTENSIFIES; YOUNGKIN CELEBRATES MOVE
Congress stepped in last year to block a D.C. city council crime bill. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Last March, both the House and Senate passed a GOP-led resolution overturning the city council’s proposed overhaul of the D.C. criminal code that would have drastically reduced minimum sentences for armed carjackings and expanded the right to jury trials, which critics say would have caused unnecessary delays.
The city council is now considering a much stricter package of bills aimed at curbing rising crime rates. That proposal includes expanding pretrial detention for suspects accused of violent crimes, creating new firearm-related charges, and giving police more leeway to engage in vehicular pursuits.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
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