DC Mayor and Attorney General Trade Blame for Recent Increase in Youth Violence

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WASHINGTON — DC Attorney General Karl Racine responds to a bulletin written by Mayor Muriel Bowser, accusing authorities of failing to end violent youth crime.

In the letter, sent Friday, the mayor writes that the attorney general and the DC Council contributed to the increase in youth violence in the past year by failing to hold juvenile criminals accountable.

“When a violent crime occurs in our city, we need people to pay close attention to what is happening throughout the process – from arrest to detention decision for those awaiting trial. Pay attention to the prosecuting decision by the Office of the Attorney General and the United States Attorney’s Office Pay attention to the sentences imposed by the judges Pay attention to the legislation the Council is proposing or sweeping changes to the DC Penal Code that are underway without sufficient and meaningful input from residents,” Mayor Bowser wrote in part of the newsletter.

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She goes on to add later, “Of course we don’t want to see hundreds of young people incarcerated, but we believe it’s important that young people who commit violent offences, using firearms that are just as deadly than weapons used by adults, face the consequences.”

In response to the newsletter, DC Attorney General Karl Racine fired back on Twitter in a series of tweets, saying his office holds juvenile criminals accountable and leadership is needed to stop these people from committing crimes. other crimes.

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“My office prosecutes all violent crimes committed by minors when we have strong evidence, as the standard of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt, and when the arrest is constitutional. Anyone, including a young person, who commits a violent crime should be held accountable,” Racine wrote.

He then adds, “Accountability is not incompatible with our efforts to help them get the services and support they need so they are less likely to re-offend, which in turn makes our communities safer. To cope to the increase in violence, DC needs leadership and a clear, consistent, response at all times.”

The swap comes as DC sees an increase in youth crime, and just days after a shooting in northeast DC involving two 15-year-olds and a 13-year-old.

READ MORE: Three teens arrested for shooting themselves in northeast DC

Last year, DC police said they arrested a total of 149 people. Of these arrests, approximately 100 were minors.

Officials also add that so far this year, 14 of the 18 carjacking arrests have been minors.

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