With violent crime on the increase and much of the D.C. City Council up for re-election, legislators are itching to make sweeping changes to the city’s criminal code.
The Council on Tuesday preliminarily approved a major overhaul to the District’s criminal code, redefining gangs, enhancing penalties for crimes against vulnerable residents and instituting a mandatory minimum jail sentence for possessing “cop killer” bullets. The legislation, introduced by Mayor Anthony Williams more than a year ago, must still go through a second reading before it becomes law.
The bill turned politically problematic for Council Member Phil Mendelson, D-at large, chairman of the judiciary panel. Despite facing a tough challenge for the Democratic nomination from attorney A. Scott Bolden, Mendelson took his time crafting in committee what he considered the most responsible, comprehensive bill — infuriating Williams and
several colleagues.
When the measure finally moved out of the panel, the mandatory seven-year minimum penalty for possession of armor-piercing bullets had been removed, the definition of a gang had been radically changed and the option of detaining youths for failing to appear in court had been abolished.
Williams said the actions “weakened” the bill and called Mendelson an “impediment.” And the Fraternal Order of Police this week endorsed Bolden’s candidacy.
Two of the provisions were put back in the bill Tuesday, with changes. The mandatory minimum for armor piercing bullets is now one year and a gang will be defined as a group of six people who organize for the purpose of committing crimes.
But after a lengthy discussion on the matter of detention versus rehabilitation, legislators narrowly defeated an amendment that would have authorized a judge to detain youths who willfully fail to appear for a court hearing.
Among the bill’s provisions
» Hikes penalties for crimes against minors, elderly and police officers
» Authorizes vehicle seizures of prostitutes’ clients
» Criminalizes prostitution and creates prostitution-free zones
» Criminalizes installation of electronic devices to surreptitiously peep on others
» Criminalizes recruiting others into a gang
