Comments on: D.C. Crime Bill(s) Liveblog: Grandstand City!

By: Civil Gang Injunctions Again Foiled by D.C. Council - City Desk - Washington City Paper

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:23:35 +0000

[...] weeks ago, the D.C. Council engaged in a knock-down fight over anti-crime legislation—in particular, over so-called ‘civil gang [...]

By: Petworth Shootouts – Possibly Gang Related – Spark More Recriminations Over Defunct Crime Bill - City Desk - Washington City Paper

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:23:32 +0000

[...] in the city, debate also continues over the crime bill torpedoed earlier this month over concerns that the proposed measures could lead to racial profiling. The Washington Post had a story Monday quoting “youths” who say they need more and better [...]

By: Live From the Post-Columbia Heights Shooting Press Conference; Evans: think West Side Story! - City Desk - Washington City Paper

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:32:46 +0000

[...] don’t like my idea what’s your idea?” Evans asked rhetorically. Mendelson’s ideas were clear. Evans chose not to vote for what was in Mendo’s emergency bill which included plenty of [...]

By: Fenty To Hold Press Conference @ Columbia Heights Metro Stop - City Desk - Washington City Paper

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:25:14 +0000

[...] advisory is not a shocker. Fenty and Co. plan on using yesterday’s shooting to press for the controversial gang injunctions. According to the advisory: “The Fenty Administration and members of the D.C. Council will [...]

By: Vox Populi » The District Digest: Same-sex marriage showdown

Vox Populi » The District Digest: Same-sex marriage showdown — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:05:36 +0000

[...] D.C. Council debated two competing anti-crime bills. The more hard-line bill, backed by Mayor Adrian Fenty (D) and [...]

By: Q

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:41:54 +0000

Thanks cminus, clearly you got better grades in law. However, this sandbagging is inconsequential don't you think? After serving on a Grand Jury, I've heard folks say, "I didn't know that gun or bullets or drugs was in the car. Somebody must've left it." DAs sometimes grasp for straws when linking possession cases where the item(s) are not conveniently on the person/suspect. Still, the way LL described the bill there's gotta be some technicality, otherwise the burden of proof will be on what "knowingly" means. So you think this section of the bill is basically saying -- Good:In vehicle with legal firearm knowingly Bad:In vehicle with illegal firearm knowingly Bad:In vehicle with legal firearm unknowingly Bad:In vehicle with illegal firearm unknowingly Bad=Is a punishable crime, Good=OK

By: cminus

cminus — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:55:13 +0000

Makes it a crime to be caught in a vehicle knowingly with an illegal firearm Sounds like stuff we should’ve already been doing don’t you think? I haven't seen the bill, but they're probably increasing the penalties on existing crimes by adding a new "crime" that's a combination of two other crimes. In a stolen car? That's three months in jail. Have an illegal firearm? That's six more months in jail, puts you up to nine. Both at the same time? That's another six months, puts you up to fifteen. (Yes, I'm aware that in practice none of this would happen; the US Attorney would drop all charges. I'm talking theory.) This sort of thing happens a lot. I've got a friend who does police bookings in Baltimore, and he always makes sure to add an "Adultery" to the list of charges against a married sex offender, since you never know when the prosecutor will need a charge they can dismiss in a plea bargain.

By: Q

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:27:54 +0000

LL, all but the last two, are not obvious measures. To * Creates gun offender registry
* Makes it a crime to be caught in a vehicle knowingly with an illegal firearm

Sounds like stuff we should've already been doing don't you think?

By: Q

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:25:05 +0000

@Key, true. Polyethylene bags will last longer than this blog and legislative debate. :( My issue isn't the environment and curbing use of bags. My issue is that this Bill is/was designed as a money maker under the auspices of Cleaning the Anacostia River. I'd rather them give a DC assessment of $15 a year (300 bags) than hit me up at the grocery store. This "fund" is just screaming misappropriation or fraud, waste, and abuse.

SG, DK, to answer your question, status quo with a little extra was passed. I'd point you to the City Council website, but it hasn't been updated it yet. Furthermore, it doesn't even have a LIMS/Bill number to check against. http://dccouncil.us/legislativecalendar Keep checking. Fair warning, this website can be slow at times.

By: Mike DeBonis

Mike DeBonis — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:13:50 +0000

What did get passed:

* New penalty for using a stolen car to commit a crime
* New identity theft laws
* Minimum 30-month sentence for chronic violent offenders
* Third-strike felony for prostitution offenses
* Higher mandatory minimum on illegal gun crimes
* Lowers pretrial detention standards for those accused of certain gun crimes
* Creates gun offender registry
* Makes it a crime to be caught in a vehicle knowingly with an illegal firearm

By: DK

DK — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:50:53 +0000

Yes, please someone tell us what *did* get passed. Was it just the status quo?

By: Key

Key — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:44:58 +0000

Q, I was with you till "my plastic bags." Nope they are not yours. They're forever, never recycle, blah blah blah. You'll come around soon, I hope. And yes, regarding guns - it's the worst of both worlds. Agreed.

By: liz

liz — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:36:40 +0000

this is the best. hilarious! and sad. more sad. but entertaining for sure. i want your job!

By: SG

SG — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:32:53 +0000

I got bored with all the bloviating on both sides... so can someone, in plain english, explain what *did* just get passed?

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:10:43 +0000

Wait why would she vote for an ammendment but against the overall bill? Thats self defeating, Boy DC voters got slipped some ambien at the polls in 2006