Criminal Justice

in committee · District of Columbia · Legislature Aug 31, 2026

B 26-0038: Clemency Board Waiver Authority Amendment Act of 2025

The "Clemency Board Waiver Authority Amendment Act of 2025" would allow the District of Columbia's Clemency Board to grant waivers of the five-year waiting period required for pardon applicants. Currently, applicants must wait five years after release from confinement or five years after conviction (if no prison sentence was imposed) before applying for a pardon, but the federal Department of Justice can grant waivers of this requirement. This bill would enable the Board to grant similar waivers when the Office of the Pardon Attorney has already provided a waiver to the applicant, though the Board could decline to grant a waiver even with federal approval. The Board would not be permitted to grant waivers to individuals on probation, parole, or supervised release, and would need to provide written notice of their waiver decision.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables DC Clemency Board to waive 5-year pardon waiting period, facilitating rehabilitation and reducing barriers to reentry, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Aug 8, 2025

B 26-0037: Clemency Board Waiver Authority Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

This bill temporarily amends the Clemency Board Establishment Act to allow the District of Columbia's Clemency Board to waive the five-year waiting period for pardon applicants, but only when the applicant has already received a waiver from the Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney. The Board would have discretion to grant or deny the waiver even if it receives notice of a DOJ waiver, and could not grant a waiver to applicants on probation, parole, or supervised release. The bill requires the Board to provide written notice of its waiver decision and would defer an applicant's case until a waiver decision is made. The amendment is temporary, expiring 225 days after taking effect.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expedites pardons by waiving waiting periods for eligible applicants, advancing criminal justice reform through streamlined clemency access while maintaining oversight safeguards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Aug 14, 2026

PR 26-0057: Executive Director of the Criminal Code Reform Commission Jinwoo Park Appointment Resolution of 2025

This resolution reappoints Jinwoo Park as Executive Director of the Criminal Code Reform Commission for a three-year term ending March 26, 2028. The Commission, established by the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Support Act, oversees the review and revision of Washington, D.C.'s criminal code to modernize laws and improve justice outcomes. The resolution formally approves Park's continued leadership in this role, following his prior service since April 2022. It directly affects the Commission's operations and the District's criminal justice policy development.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReappoints leader of commission modernizing criminal code to improve justice outcomes, directly advancing reform efforts per bill's purpose.95% confidence

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Jul 4, 2025

B 26-0275: Pilot Truancy Reduction Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This bill establishes a one-year pilot program targeting secondary schools in Washington, D.C., with truancy rates exceeding 50% in 2023-2024. It requires these schools to refer students aged 14-17 who accumulate 15 unexcused absences to the Department of Human Services (DHS) within two school days. DHS must then provide interventions, document reasons for absences (like housing instability), and publish two reports by March and August 2025 comparing attendance, academic performance, and arrest rates before and after referrals. Participating schools are exempt from standard truancy reporting requirements for students in this age group during the pilot.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDiverts truancy referrals to DHS for social interventions (housing stability) instead of law enforcement, preventing school-to-prison pipeline - aligns with criminal justice reform90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAddresses chronic absenteeism in DC K-12 schools via DHS interventions to improve attendance and educational access, directly supporting student engagement and school performance.95% confidence

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Nov 7, 2025

B 26-0381: Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Technical Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This bill expands the Police Complaints Board from 5 to 9 members, requiring representation from each city ward plus one at-large member, with all members (after a transition) prohibited from having current law enforcement affiliations. It grants the Office of Police Complaints Executive Director new authority to independently initiate complaints when evidence of misconduct - such as failure to intervene in excessive force or failure to report violations - is discovered, even if not raised by the original complainant. It also clarifies that specific victim-related provisions in Chapter 3 of Title 14 apply only to individuals under 18 years old. As an emergency measure, it expires 90 days after enactment or upon the applicability date of a related 2022 law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands Police Complaints Board and grants authority to independently investigate misconduct, strengthening oversight mechanisms.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Feb 14, 2025

PR 26-0048: Secure DC Pretrial Detention Extension and Reporting Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

This resolution extends the expiration date of pretrial detention provisions in the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024, which would have ended on February 18, 2025. It removes the sunset date to allow the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) additional time to complete required reports on the effectiveness of these policies. The resolution also clarifies reporting requirements for the CJCC under the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Establishment Act of 2001. As an emergency measure, it takes immediate effect to prevent the provisions from expiring before the reports are finalized.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExtends pretrial detention provisions without sunset, maintaining restrictive policies rather than advancing reform.85% confidence

Tags Emergency Management

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Oct 17, 2025

PR 26-0332: Peace DC Omnibus Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

This resolution declares an emergency to expedite several amendments to existing District of Columbia laws, bypassing standard legislative review. It directly affects residents and agencies by: (1) allowing Metropolitan Police Department officer applicants to count certain college credits toward education requirements; (2) clarifying court procedures for sealing certain criminal records; and (3) updating rules for handling fare evasion citations and pretrial detention policies. The resolution cites urgent needs to resolve legal gaps, prevent system inefficiencies, and align with prior legislation like the Peace DC Omnibus Amendment Act. It is procedural in nature, enabling immediate implementation of these technical adjustments without new policy creation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSealing criminal records is a direct reform measure that reduces barriers for individuals with past convictions, aligning with criminal justice support indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

in committee · District of Columbia · Legislature Jan 10, 2025

PR 26-0013: Firearms Control Regulations Rulemaking Approval Resolution of 2024

This resolution approves a rulemaking that clarifies District of Columbia firearm regulations for registration and concealed carry licenses. It specifies that arrest records alone do not disqualify applicants; instead, a history of violent behavior within the past five years is required for disqualification. The rule also clarifies that prior denials or revocations of firearm registration are not permanent, and the Chief of Police must consider the underlying reasons for past decisions, not just the fact of the denial. Additionally, concealed carry licenses may be denied if an applicant's conduct demonstrates they pose a danger to themselves or others.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill clarifies firearm licensing to exclude arrest records alone as disqualification, requiring violent behavior history instead, and allows reconsideration of past denials. This reduces unnecessary barriers for non-violent applicants, aligning wi...85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Policing

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in committee · District of Columbia · Legislature Apr 24, 2025

B 26-0203: Kidnapping Amendment Act of 2025

The "Kidnapping Amendment Act of 2025" (Bill B 26-0203) updates Washington D.C.'s kidnapping statute to close gaps identified by a 2024 court ruling. It defines "substantial confinement or movement" as moving someone 20+ feet or confining them for 10+ minutes, ensuring short-duration incidents (like a 20-minute vehicle transport) qualify as kidnapping. The bill expands second-degree kidnapping to cover intent to commit any crime (not just felonies), creates a new misdemeanor offense for less severe restraints (up to 180 days), and clarifies jury requirements for intent. These changes directly affect individuals committing kidnapping or restraint offenses and victims in such incidents across the District.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by lowering kidnapping thresholds (20+ ft/10+ min) and covering intent to commit any crime, not just felonies.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · District of Columbia · Legislature Jun 10, 2026

B 26-0479: Youth Villages Grant Establishment Amendment Act of 2025

The Youth Villages Grant Establishment Amendment Act of 2025 creates a new grant program within DC’s Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) to fund neighborhood-based support hubs for youth. It directly affects young people up to age 25 who are justice-involved or at high risk of justice involvement, particularly in underserved communities. The bill provides grants of up to $300,000 to nonprofit organizations to establish these hubs, requiring them to offer daily services like mentorship, skills training, academic support, and connections to housing or food assistance. Hubs must partner with local schools, community groups, and businesses to build sustained intergenerational networks and track outcomes such as reduced recidivism and improved school attendance. The program mirrors DC’s existing Senior Villages model but tailors services to youth needs through a competitive grant process starting in FY2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds neighborhood support hubs for justice-involved youth to reduce recidivism and improve rehabilitation, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

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