Bowser, Pirro Unveil 'Protecting Victims Act of 2026' to Combat Rising Domestic Violence Mayor Muriel Bowser and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the "Protecting Victims Amendment Act of 2026" on April 24, 2026, during a joint event with District public safety leaders. The legislation aims to address the surge in domestic violence incidents, particularly those involving dangerous weapons, which have become a growing concern despite a decline in overall violent crime in Washington, D.C. According to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Jeffery Carroll, domestic violence-related assaults now account for 30% of the city’s homicides this year. While violent crime rates have decreased year-to-date, the rise in domestic violence homicides has prompted officials to seek stronger enforcement measures. U.S. Attorney Pirro emphasized the urgency of the issue, stating, “Even as overall crime declines, the persistence of domestic violence—and the tragic rise in domestic violence homicides—underscores the urgent need for stronger enforcement tools.” The proposed bill includes several key provisions designed to enhance protections for survivors and increase accountability for offenders. These measures include elevating repeated violations of temporary and civil protection orders to felony offenses, granting courts greater authority to detain abusers before trial, and modernizing the kidnapping statute to create a "felony unlawful entry" charge for cases where an offender enters a home and commits an assault. Additionally, the legislation introduces sentencing enhancements for violence against pregnant victims and establishes a new offense for crimes committed in the presence of a child.#jeanine_pirro #metropolitan_police_department #muriel_bowser #jeffery_carroll #lindsey_appiah
DC Officials Outline Legislation to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors, Crack Down on Abusers D.C. officials are advancing a new legislative package aimed at enhancing protections for domestic violence survivors and imposing stricter penalties on perpetrators. The proposed legislation, known as the Protecting Victims Act of 2026, was announced by Mayor Muriel Bowser alongside U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro. The bill seeks to strengthen enforcement of court orders, increase pretrial detention for domestic violence offenders, improve accountability for abusers, and safeguard the privacy of victims and survivors. Key provisions of the act include classifying repeat violations of temporary and civil protection orders as felonies. It also grants courts greater authority to detain individuals charged with domestic violence offenses and designates unlawful entry into a home to commit assault as a felony. A new crime will be created for offenses committed in the presence of a child, a measure Pirro emphasized as critical to addressing the long-term trauma inflicted on children exposed to domestic violence. Pirro highlighted the absence of a specific charge for domestic violence cases involving children, stating, “We’ve got to make that a crime, because there is no question that the consequences are long-term in terms of that child learning that violence is the only way to resolve conflict in their lives based upon what they are seeing between their parents or intimate partners.” She also called for enhanced sentencing for offenders who strangle their partners, noting that her office has filed 90 felony strangulation cases so far in 2026 and expects to file 360 by year’s end. Pirro pointed out that while strangulation was reclassified as a felony under the Secure D.C.#jeanine_pirro #d_c #muriel_bowser #protecting_victims_act_2026 #d_c_safe
D.C. Mayor Declares Emergency to Extend Expired Juvenile Curfew Rule D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a 15-day public emergency Thursday to reinstate and extend the District’s limited juvenile curfew, which had expired on April 15. The order prevents a gap in the curfew’s enforcement until April 21, when the D.C. Council is set to vote on a potential permanent extension of the law. The curfew, which applies to all individuals under 18 between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., was reinstated to address disorderly behavior, prevent violence, and protect public safety, according to Bowser’s office. The emergency declaration also grants D.C.’s interim police chief, Jeffery W. Carroll, the authority to establish juvenile curfew zones at any time if police determine that more than eight minors plan to gather after 8 p.m. and that the safety of youth, residents, or the public is at risk. This provision supports existing curfew zones in areas like the Navy Yard and the U Street corridor, which have been in place for several months. Carroll emphasized the importance of curfew zones and a citywide 11 p.m. curfew in safeguarding young people, stating, “The safety of our young people is the most important thing to me as Chief of Police and members of the Metropolitan Police Department.” The current order extends actions taken by the Council and the mayor in 2025, when the Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act modified a 1995 law. The 2025 legislation allowed curfew rules to apply to 17-year-olds and to be enforced on weekends, not just weekdays. However, the 2025 law expired on Wednesday, creating a potential lapse in enforcement. Bowser’s emergency order fills this gap until the Council’s next vote on an extension. The Council’s decision remains uncertain, but Bowser’s office has left room for potential changes.#d_c #muriel_bowser #jeffery_w_carroll #pan_african_community_action_group #navy_yard
