Councilmember Pinto introduces new ‘Peace DC' legislation to reduce crime

Yahoo

24-03-2025

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Monday, Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto introduced Peace DC, an omnibus legislation aimed at reducing crime in the District.
'It is not one intervention that is going to make all of the difference in D.C.,' said Pinto. 'It's the collection of inventions that we know make a difference.'
The legislation is a follow-up to Secure DC, which the Council That package focused on driving down violence.
'By working together, we made tremendous progress in making the District safer after Secure DC went into effect last year, and we must build on that progress with focused interventions to promote sustainable peace in the District,' said Pinto. 'Peace DC will strengthen our violence prevention efforts, help set up youth and formerly incarcerated people for success and enhance support for our crucial public safety workforce.'
Peace DC consists of at least a dozen separate bills and funding for multiple safety programs.
In part, it will consolidate violence intervention programs under the (ONSE). Currently, is operated through the Office of the Attorney General.
'We need to have a merged system that is under mayoral control, so we have an executive agency doing this important work and connecting people with the resources that they need,' said Pinto.
The plan includes a three-year advisory team that will manage the transition. It would also set up consistent training for violence interrupters and establish more oversight and transparency around violence interruption contracts.
This comes after the indictment and expulsion of former Councilmember Trayon White, who is accused of accepting bribes in exchange for his influence on violence intervention contracts.
'Over the last six years we have scaled up dramatically these investments without the corresponding infrastructure support at the agency to make sure these grants are being handled with fidelity,' said Pinto.
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'The one thing I saw heavy is training. Training the practitioner, conflict resolution, even domestic violence,' said Terrance Staley, executive director of the Alliance of Concerned Men, which works to eradicate violence through conflict resolution.
Staley said he's generally supportive of the Peace DC plan.
'I think this consolidated training, formalized triangulation of services on behalf of juvenile prevention is what we've all been waiting for, and I think it's time for this,' he said. 'I think we've all wanted to work together, and I think that is what we see in the end, a formalized engagement that supports and respects the efforts of community practitioners.'
Still, others aren't sold.
'We've seen a number of pieces of legislation that have been passed by the Council and never fully funded and therefore never implemented,' said Paul Ashton, deputy executive director of the Justice Policy Institute.
Ashton said the Council should focus on funding safety plans it has already passed rather than introducing and considering new ones.
'I think really going back through the litany of strategic plans and recommendations that have been well thought out, well researched, had strong community input is the way to go,' he said.
Peace DC also creates new retention measures for police and firefighters.
In addition, it creates a pilot program for justice-involved youth who are given deferred disposition or deferred prosecution agreements. Under the pilot, those youths would be paired with a trusted adult who ensures they comply with their requirements.
Council committees will consider the legislation in the coming weeks.
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