Rep. Byron Donalds Reintroduces DC CRIMES Act H.R. 4922 to Lower Youth Offender Age Limit to 18 and Restrict D.C. Council

Florida Republican Representative Byron Donalds has reintroduced the DC CRIMES Act (H.R. 4922), legislation aimed at reforming the District of Columbia's youth offender sentencing guidelines. Currently, individuals under the age of 25 who commit crimes in D.C. are not charged as adults. The bill proposes to amend this by lowering the upper age limit for youth offender status from 24 to 18 years old, ensuring that offenders aged 18 and above are charged as adults. The legislation also seeks to prevent the D.C. Council from implementing policies perceived as soft on crime, including prohibiting reductions in existing criminal penalties. Donalds has emphasized that the bill reflects common sense and addresses concerns about public safety in D.C., which he describes as substantially weak on crime. Some D.C. city council members, such as Brooke Pinto, acknowledge the need for further action on the issue. The bill was reintroduced in Congress on August 8, 2025.