Issue
Public Safety & Justice
Crime is at multi-year lows. The political fight over it isn't.
Quick takeWhat you need to know
What you need to know
- Homicides fell 52% YTD 2026; violent crime fell 29% in 2025 — the steepest single-year decline on record.
- MPD sworn strength is 3,033 officers (Jan 2026), the lowest count in 50 years.
- DC has no locally-elected DA; Trump appointee Jeanine Pirro has run the U.S. Attorney's office since Aug 2025.
DC homicides fell 52% in the first four months of 2026 versus the same window in 2025, and overall violent crime fell 29% in 2025 — the steepest single-year decline on record. Yet the Metropolitan Police Department's sworn strength stands at 3,033 officers (Jan 2026), the lowest count in 50 years. DC is the only U.S. jurisdiction whose local crimes are prosecuted by a federally-appointed U.S. Attorney rather than a locally-elected District Attorney; that office has been led by Trump appointee Jeanine Pirro since August 2025. The Council made the Secure DC Act of 2024's pretrial detention expansion permanent in mid-2025 (the 'Peace DC' bill). Juvenile crime, especially carjacking, remains the most politically charged subset of the data.
What's at stake
Pretrial detention is permanent
The Secure DC Act of 2024 expanded rebuttable-presumption pretrial detention for violent crimes with a sunset clause. The Peace DC bill (passed July 2025) made the change permanent — no remaining sunset.
Federal prosecutors set the agenda
DC has no locally-elected District Attorney. The U.S. Attorney for DC, Jeanine Pirro since August 2025, prosecutes nearly every local felony and misdemeanor. The office's 2026 federal trial win rate is roughly 50%.
Youth detention conditions worsened
Reported youth injuries at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services rose roughly 5x between January 2022 (6) and January 2025 (30). The committed-youth population grew 30% from FY24 to FY25.
PowerWho decides
Who decides
- MPD Interim Chief Jeffery CarrollDay-to-day command of the Metropolitan Police Department. Chief Pamela Smith resigned in December 2025 amid allegations of crime-statistics falsification; Carroll, a 24-year MPD veteran, was appointed interim chief by Mayor Bowser on Jan 6, 2026.
- U.S. Attorney for DC, Jeanine PirroProsecutes local crime in DC. Trump appointee, confirmed by the Senate Aug 2, 2025.
- DC Council Judiciary CommitteeAuthors the criminal code and oversees MPD, DOC, and DYRS budgets. Chair: Brooke Pinto (D, Ward 2).
- DC Superior Court judgesHand down sentences and rule on suppression motions. Federal judges in DC have repeatedly suppressed evidence in 2026 USAO gun cases.
Who decides
- MPD Interim Chief Jeffery CarrollDay-to-day command of the Metropolitan Police Department. Chief Pamela Smith resigned in December 2025 amid allegations of crime-statistics falsification; Carroll, a 24-year MPD veteran, was appointed interim chief by Mayor Bowser on Jan 6, 2026.
- U.S. Attorney for DC, Jeanine PirroProsecutes local crime in DC. Trump appointee, confirmed by the Senate Aug 2, 2025.
- DC Council Judiciary CommitteeAuthors the criminal code and oversees MPD, DOC, and DYRS budgets. Chair: Brooke Pinto (D, Ward 2).
- DC Superior Court judgesHand down sentences and rule on suppression motions. Federal judges in DC have repeatedly suppressed evidence in 2026 USAO gun cases.
Recent moves
- Council passes permanent youth curfew 8–5 with extended curfew zones, sunset 2028DC Council ↗
- U.S. Attorney Pirro reports violent crime in DC at a 30-year low, homicides down 35%USAO-DC ↗
- DC homicides −52% YTD, carjackings −44% vs. same period in 2025Townhall (citing MPD) ↗
- Mayor Bowser names Jeffery Carroll, 24-year MPD veteran, interim chiefMayor's office ↗
- MPD sworn strength reported at 3,033 — 50-year lowACLU-DC ↗
- Chief Pamela Smith resigns amid crime-stats falsification allegationsWUSA9 ↗
- Trump federalizes MPD via Home Rule §740 (lapses Sep 10 at 30-day limit)CNN ↗
- Senate confirms Jeanine Pirro as U.S. Attorney for DCWashington Post ↗
- Council passes Peace DC, making Secure DC pretrial detention permanentCM Brooke Pinto release ↗
- Council passes Secure DC Act 12–0 (Trayon White voted Present)The Eagle ↗
AskQuestions to put to candidates
Questions to put to candidates
- Do you support adding a locally-elected District Attorney for DC?
- What's your concrete plan to bring MPD sworn strength back above 3,500?
- Should the Youth Rehabilitation Act age cap stay at 24, or be lowered?
Questions to put to candidates
- Do you support adding a locally-elected District Attorney for DC?
- What's your concrete plan to bring MPD sworn strength back above 3,500?
- Should the Youth Rehabilitation Act age cap stay at 24, or be lowered?