U.S. Attorney Pirro Calls for Overhaul of D.C. Juvenile Crime Laws, Citing 92.7% Re-Arrest Rate for Rehabilitated Youth

Washington D.C. – U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro is spearheading a controversial push to significantly reform the city's juvenile justice system, arguing that current laws are too lenient and impede effective prosecution of young offenders. Her statements come amidst a broader initiative by the Trump administration to assert federal control over D.C.'s public safety. Pirro specifically highlighted perceived jurisdictional gaps that prevent her office from prosecuting juveniles for serious non-fatal gun crimes.

Pirro stated her office's limited authority over certain juvenile offenses, noting, "If they're under 18 years of age, I can only get the case if it's murder... rape. Even if they shot a gun but don't kill you, I can't get it. So, the law has to be changed." This refers to the division of labor where the D.C. Attorney General's Office (OAG) typically handles most juvenile cases, focusing on rehabilitation, while the U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) prosecutes a narrow list of serious juvenile felonies, often requiring transfer to adult court.

Central to Pirro's criticism are D.C. statutes such as the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA), and record sealing laws, which she claims prioritize offenders over public safety. These laws aim to offer young adults, often under 22 or 25, opportunities for rehabilitation and reduced sentences, with convictions potentially being set aside upon successful completion of programs. Pirro contends that such provisions foster a lack of accountability among young offenders.

While official police data indicates a 35% drop in violent crime in D.C. from 2023 to 2024, and a 26% decrease year-to-date, Pirro dismisses these statistics, emphasizing the impact on victims and the persistent issue of youth-involved violence. Her concerns are amplified by recent data from the Mayor’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which revealed that 92.7% of young people committed to the Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services (DYRS) are subsequently re-arrested after release.

This alarming recidivism rate has also prompted D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb to introduce the "ROAD Act," aiming to mandate reforms within DYRS and enhance oversight to improve public safety outcomes. However, advocates for the existing laws argue that they are based on developmental science recognizing that young brains are still maturing, and that programs like IRAA have shown success, with 93% of released individuals not being re-charged. Pirro's stance aligns with President Trump's call for a federal "takeover" of D.C. policing, framing the city's approach to crime as overly permissive.