President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro are calling for sweeping changes to Washington, D.C.’s youth crime laws — including allowing 14-year-olds to be prosecuted as adults for violent offenses.
Trump’s Stance
In a recent post on X, Trump argued that the District of Columbia must change its laws to curb what he describes as “out-of-control” youth violence.
“The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these ‘minors’ as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14,” Trump wrote, pointing to a recent assault on government efficiency aide Edward Constantine.
Shortly after, Trump announced a temporary federal takeover of D.C., citing public safety concerns.
Pirro’s Push for Tougher Laws
Pirro, a former judge and Fox News personality now serving as U.S. Attorney for the district, echoed Trump’s call.
“We’re not dealing with kids who need a pat on the back — we’re dealing with a wave of brutal violence that demands a serious response,” she told CNN.
In a Washington Post op-ed, Pirro urged the D.C. Council to reconsider three laws she says undermine public safety:
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The Youth Rehabilitation Act (2018)
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The Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act
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The Second Chance Amendment Act (2022)
She argued these measures allow for what she called the “stunning erasure of criminal convictions.”
The National Context
Across the U.S., many states already allow teens as young as 12 or 13 to be charged as adults depending on the crime:
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Missouri, Montana, and South Carolina allow transfers at age 12 (and even younger for murder).
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New York, Nevada, and Oklahoma allow transfers starting at 13.
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Texas, Wisconsin, and Utah allow transfers starting at 14.
Currently, D.C. law prohibits trying offenders younger than 15 as adults in most cases.
But Crime Is Falling
Despite high-profile incidents, data shows overall crime in D.C. has declined since a post-pandemic spike:
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Youth arrests hit a high in 2023, then fell the following year.
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Youths now make up about 7% of annual arrests in the city — similar to Boston and on par with the national average, according to the Council on Criminal Justice.
Critics Push Back
Experts warn that charging minors as adults could worsen outcomes:
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The Juvenile Law Center says youth in adult facilities face higher risks of assault, sexual abuse, and suicide.
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A recent Columbia Law Review article argued that juvenile transfers may even be unconstitutional.
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Advocates say punitive policies echo the “tough on crime” 1990s era that fueled mass incarceration without addressing root causes.
Councilmember Christina Henderson responded bluntly:
“These are our kids. The district should be able to make that decision for themselves.”
The proposal from Trump and Pirro highlights a growing clash between calls for harsher punishments and evidence showing punitive measures don’t reduce crime. With youth arrests again on the rise in 2025, D.C. now sits at the center of a national debate over how to balance accountability with rehabilitation for young offenders.
