Courtwatch DC

Detention IS NOT prevention. Join us Sept 26th to unpack the crime bills that have been proposed by DC elected officials and how we can fight back. mobilize.us/hwd/event/5796…

We keep up safe and we keep us free! ✅Pre-trial amendment passed ✅DNA amendment passed ✅Expungement and record sealing passed!!! We will continue to chip away at the #SecureDC omnibus until all the harmful provisions are stricken!

We are so elated that council realized how harmful pretrial is! This gives us more time to gather data on its impact and forges a path for expansion to die at the end of the temporary legislation!!! #SecureDC

COME ON MCDUFFIE! We got a pretrial amendment on the books!!!! #SecureDC

Frumin said “I’ve gotten over 450 emails today”… it’s working, keep emailing!!!! bit.ly/no-crimnibus-v…

No vote on the theft threshold today. McDuffie and Lewis George will work together to get it done for second reading. The amendment was withdrawn. #SecureDC

Instead of penalizing people for being poor, we could redirect resources to ensure that folks have a universal basic income. It’s asinine to believe that lowering the threshold will reduce crime. People are stealing to eat!!

Council is hearing @CMLewisGeorgeW4 final amendment addressing the lowering of the threshold of retail theft. The national standard is $1000 and JLG’s amendment intends to keep it that way. @brookepintodc plan however, would lower it to $500.

And the yes’s have it on expungement and record sealing which actually builds pathways for formerly incarcerated folks to gain employment and housing! 10-3 #SecureDC

It’s been 2 years since expungement and records sealing was passed and yet it has not been funded. Today @Janeese4DC proposed an amended that simply funds the law that’s already on the books. Say Yes to this amendment. #SecureDC

.@CMLewisGeorgeW4 emphasizes the importance of prioritizing rape kits that are currently taking too long to process. If .@CMBrookePinto intends to collect DNA, she suggests obtaining a warrant as required. Secure DC Omnibus #Crimnibus

The amendment passed 9 to 4!!!!! DNA upon arrest will be removed from the legislation! #SecureDC

Pinto now is asking McDuffie to withdraw his amendment. He has refused and like to see it go to vote. #SecureDC

@CMBrookePinto just doubled down DNA collection and the hearing room has erupted in jeers from the audience. @ChmnMendelson threatened to clear the chamber if the audience did not come to decorum. #SecureDC

McDuffie said it plainly, folks should be assumed innocent until proven guilty. And DNA collection infringes on privacy rights. #SecureDC

@BrianneKNadeau is more concerned about police feeling demoralized when they don’t close cases instead of the people the police actually harm. #SecureDC

Mendelson and the rest of the council are concerned about a "soft on crime" narrative that has garnered and captured national attention. Elected officials perception in the media should have no bearing on voting yes for this legislation. #SecureDC IS NOT SAFE DC.

@ChmnMendelson is encouraging people NOT to vote no but to work on amendments between the first and second vote. Many council members disagree with this approach. #SecureDC

A mask causing somebody fear is subjective. This portion of the bill will create an avenue for white people to call the police on Black youth as mentioned by @ZacharyforWard5

passing a bill because you think it "makes people feel safe" IS NOT THE SAME AS PASSING A BILL THAT MAKES PEOPLE SAFE, THE ILLUSION OF SAFTY DOES NOTHING TO STOP AND PREVENT CRIME

Councilmember @CMBrookePinto's Secure DC bill says a lot about whose lives (and $$$) the city values most. A person faces 10 years for stealing $500 and 3 years for a fourth offense of child sexual abuse. A person faces more time for taking car keys than for taking a life.