But we’re not done listening, and we’re not done finding ways to fulfill government’s greatest responsibility: to provide for the safety and well-being of all our residents.
Both the public safety emergency legislation I introduced and shepherded to passage last summer and the Secure D.C. omnibus I introduced and passed into law this year were shaped by residents’ concerns.
I’ve met with thousands of D.C. residents, held hearings on more than a dozen pieces of legislation I introduced and moved forward, conducted public safety walks in all eight wards to hear neighborhood-specific needs and feedback, and discussed needs identified by community organizations. I’ve collaborated with the attorney general’s office, U.S. attorney’s office and our D.C. courts and met with local and federal leaders across the District and country to determine the efficacy of a wide range of potential initiatives.
I heard the same message in living rooms, at houses of worship, on sidewalks and inside community centers. Everyone demanded safety and action. Collectively, we all wanted to send a clear message that we cannot, and will not, tolerate the gun violence or crime trends that have been devastating our communities. And we knew we needed a dynamic and multifaceted response to address all the factors that make residents feel unsafe.
That’s why Secure D.C. includes initiatives to prevent crime and end cycles of violence by investing in our public spaces and creating job training programs to support citizens returning from incarceration; to ensure accountability for violent crime and gun violence by strengthening charges for carjacking and firearms use and allowing pretrial detention for violent crimes; and to facilitate reliable and effective government response to resident needs by increasing data-sharing, transparency and resources.
But the work is far from over. I hear both the residents’ calls for continued responsiveness to crime and those calling for long-term investments in our communities. And I want them to hear this: We can and must do both. And we will.
We can make sure our kids get to school safely and invest in literacy training for our teachers who support them in their classrooms. We can refuse to tolerate gun crimes and carjackings when they happen and stand up well-coordinated violence intervention, de-escalation and restorative justice programs to stop the next cycle of violence before it starts. And as we make our public spaces safe, we can provide access to programming and recreational spaces so that our communities can experience not just baseline security but enrichment and joy.
The District has a bright future. Our communities demand and depend on it. And are working hard to get there.
The writer, a Democrat representing Ward 2, is chairwoman of the D.C. Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety.
In the wake of the enactment of Secure D.C., the dialogue on public safety must shift toward solutions that not only ensure accountability for offenders but also prioritize residents’ well-being and tackle the catalysts of crime. We can reduce incarceration and lower crime rates simultaneously.
The cost of punishment — particularly through incarceration — is exceedingly high. In comparison, preventive initiatives such as early-childhood education, mentorship, employment opportunities and mental health services typically require a fraction of the cost and yield significant long-term societal benefits beyond reducing crime.
We should fully fund initiatives such as the Metropolitan Police Department Cadet Corps, which hires District residents between the ages of 17 and 24 for uniformed civilian jobs while also helping them pay for college courses. Efforts such as the Cadet Corps and initiatives to prioritize responsive and proactive community policing are essential to enhancing public safety.
Expanding employment opportunities, particularly through programs such as First Source, can provide individuals with viable alternatives to criminal activity. And establishing resource hubs in Ward 7 in collaboration with agencies including the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, Pretrial Services Agency and the Court Support Services Division can help prevent relapse into criminal behavior. Intervening at the right time in…
Read More: Opinion | Secure D.C. is just a start to fight crime