DC criminal code overhaul is ghastly

[Anonymous]

The mayor and the chief of police have big problems with Allen's proposals:

https://dcist.com/story/22/10/25/bowser-objects-portions-criminal-code-overhaul/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any person facing potential jail time SHOULD be able to demand a jury trial.

This proposed law is not the problem; putting people in jail for up to a year for minor offenses is the real problem.

The US incarcerates a higher percentage of its population than any other country in the world.

Jailing people for minor offenses is expensive to taxpayers and dangerous for the individuals placed in jail or prison.

Poor people go to jail for misdemeanors. This is wrong & unfair. We need better ways to handle minor offenses.

It's funny how this is basically the opposite of how DC handles traffic offenses.

The penalties for speeding and other infractions are pretty stiff and keep getting stiffer. When people say they're disproportionate to the offense, the response is invariably, "don't speed -- obey the law and you have nothing to worry about."

But here, with penalties for real actual crimes like violent assaults, the attitude is never "if you don't commit crimes, you have nothing to worry about." The attitude is always "can't we go easier on people who commit violent assaults?"

Allen is always looking for ways to go easy on criminals and go hard on drivers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The mayor and the chief of police have big problems with Allen's proposals:

https://dcist.com/story/22/10/25/bowser-objects-portions-criminal-code-overhaul/

A handful of objections to a 231-page rewrite around which the Mayor and Chief said "there was “consensus” around 95% of the rewrite of the code" is hardly "big problems" with the code.

And, to be clear, these are not "Allen's proposals." This is the work product of the CCRC and, in fact, Allen and his Council colleagues have walked back a number of recommended changes in response to objections by the USAO and others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The mayor and the chief of police have big problems with Allen's proposals:

https://dcist.com/story/22/10/25/bowser-objects-portions-criminal-code-overhaul/

A handful of objections to a 231-page rewrite around which the Mayor and Chief said "there was “consensus” around 95% of the rewrite of the code" is hardly "big problems" with the code.

And, to be clear, these are not "Allen's proposals." This is the work product of the CCRC and, in fact, Allen and his Council colleagues have walked back a number of recommended changes in response to objections by the USAO and others.

The Biden administration said Allen's proposals were nuts. They have to be pretty bad when an administration from his own party is trashing them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The progressive city counsel wants to turn D.C. into San Francisco.

We see how well that's working out for them.

"Smith called San Francisco “a city of chaos.” “Many streets and parks are overrun with drugs, criminals, and homelessness, and local leadership and law enforcement enable it through inaction,” he wrote."

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/10/cotopaxi-san-francisco-davis-smith/671858/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The mayor and the chief of police have big problems with Allen's proposals:

https://dcist.com/story/22/10/25/bowser-objects-portions-criminal-code-overhaul/

A handful of objections to a 231-page rewrite around which the Mayor and Chief said "there was “consensus” around 95% of the rewrite of the code" is hardly "big problems" with the code.

And, to be clear, these are not "Allen's proposals." This is the work product of the CCRC and, in fact, Allen and his Council colleagues have walked back a number of recommended changes in response to objections by the USAO and others.

Bowser is objecting to Allen's bid to effectively decriminalize virtually everything short of murder. Kind of seems like a big deal? Love how Allen pretends these are just technical fixes.

[Anonymous]

Matt Yglesias weighs in

https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/1584910943129059328

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Matt Yglesias weighs in

https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/1584910943129059328

I’m glad there is a little more coverage of how stupid jury trials for all misdeamenors would be. I get that everyone is super woke these days and progressive criminal justice is de rigeur, but Jesus Christ, use your brains. This would cause so many quality of life crime issues. Violent crime is on the rise. Maybe we shouldn’t be scared to arrest and enforce the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Matt Yglesias weighs in

https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/1584910943129059328

I’m glad there is a little more coverage of how stupid jury trials for all misdeamenors would be. I get that everyone is super woke these days and progressive criminal justice is de rigeur, but Jesus Christ, use your brains. This would cause so many quality of life crime issues. Violent crime is on the rise. Maybe we shouldn’t be scared to arrest and enforce the law.

All of the below are misdemeanors:

arson (for under $1000 property)
stalking
assaults that do not cause "significant bodily injury"
threats to do bodily harm
contributing to the delinquency of a minor (including giving them drugs/alcohol, making them join a gang)
attacking a policy dog
counterfeting (less than 1000 items/$10,000)
abuse/neglect of an elderly or dependent person that does not cause "significant bodily injury"
cruelty to animals
dogfighting
flashing
indecent proposal to minors
false 911 calls
disorderly conduct
rioting (without serious bodily harm or property damage)
obstructing bridges
forgery
illegal ivory trade (first offense, value under $25,000)
aggressive panhandling
prostitution (first and second offenses)
date rape
revenge porn/blackmail porn (second degree)
identity theft (second degree)
"knowing" insurance fraud
receipt of stolen property (under $1000)
defacing a public library book

[Anonymous]

Almost all of these had a trial on The Practice.

[Anonymous]

What can we do at this point? (Besides vote against Charles Allen but I was already going to that)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What can we do at this point? (Besides vote against Charles Allen but I was already going to that)

If you’re in Ward 6, send him an email. He needs to hear from constituents because there’s a small group of loudmouths who are very supportive of decriminalizing literally everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can we do at this point? (Besides vote against Charles Allen but I was already going to that)

If you’re in Ward 6, send him an email. He needs to hear from constituents because there’s a small group of loudmouths who are very supportive of decriminalizing literally everything.

And vote against Silverman. We need to get these nutjobs off the council.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What can we do at this point? (Besides vote against Charles Allen but I was already going to that)

Pretty much nothing. Current DC political leadership, and anyone that might foreseeably be elected here anytime soon, believes as a matter of policy that it is better to tolerate a higher crime rate in order to reduce incarceration and avoid damaging the life prospects of offenders to the extent possible. They aren’t pro-crime or anti-public order per se, but those are less important considerations. Crime victims are regrettable collateral damage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can we do at this point? (Besides vote against Charles Allen but I was already going to that)

Pretty much nothing. Current DC political leadership, and anyone that might foreseeably be elected here anytime soon, believes as a matter of policy that it is better to tolerate a higher crime rate in order to reduce incarceration and avoid damaging the life prospects of offenders to the extent possible. They aren’t pro-crime or anti-public order per se, but those are less important considerations. Crime victims are regrettable collateral damage.

This is the view of the far left -- that every kid who beats up an old woman on the bus is one hug away from becoming a brain surgeon. We don't have to elect far left extremists. In fact, one of them, Elissa Silverman, is fighting for reelection right now. Get rid of her and send a message to the council.