The Republican-led House on Tuesday passed legislation to allow stricter criminal penalties for younger offenders in the District of Columbia, moving to overhaul the city’s criminal justice system as President Trump continues his crackdown on the city.
The pair of bills, which both drew some support from Democrats, are part of a package House Republicans are pushing through this week to impose tighter federal control over Washington, as federal officers and the National Guard still patrol the streets and Mr. Trump threatens to again take over the local police force.
One measure would lower the age at which children accused of certain violent crimes can be charged as adults, from 16 years old to 14 years old. That would make them eligible for harsher sentences and adult prisons — a policy change Mr. Trump has called for. Several states have similar provisions, and eight Democrats joined Republicans to pass the measure by a 225-to-203 vote.
The other would roll back a local law that allows judges to give more lenient sentences to people younger than 25, by lowering the limit on that law to 18 years old and requiring judges to adhere to mandatory minimums for youth offenders. Dozens of Democrats joined Republicans to pass the bill, 240 to 179.
Later this week, the House is expected to vote on two other measures that would remove restrictions on vehicular police chases and give the White House a freer hand when choosing judicial picks for D.C. courts, by abolishing a local commission to recommend them.
All four bills may face challenges in the Senate, where they will require the support of Democrats in order to bypass a filibuster and be considered for a vote. But Republicans have long turned to crime as a wedge issue, particularly during campaign season, and Democrats have at times joined them in imposing the federal government’s will on D.C.
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The post House Passes D.C. Crime Bills as Trump Crackdown Continues appeared first on New York Times.
