District Of Columbia 2025-2026 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill B26-0186 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
3	3	OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER BROOKE PINTO
4	4	THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING
5	5	1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 106
6	6	WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004
7	7
8	8	March 24, 2025
9	9	Nyasha Howard, Secretary
10	10
11	11	Council of the District of Columbia
12	12	1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
13	13	Washington, DC 20004
14	14	Dear Secretary Howard,
15	15	Today, along with Councilmembers Charles Allen and Anita Bonds, I am pleased to introduce the
16	16	“Justice-Involved Youth in Community Act of 2025.” This legislation establishes a program t o
17	17	pair a Trusted Adult with youth assigned to Deferred Disposition Agreements (DDAs), Deferred
18	18	Prosecution Agreements (DPAs), or Consent Decrees (CDs)
19	19	i
20	20	to provide intensive, wholistic
21	21	support to youth during the length of the agreement. The bill ensur es youth who are assigned
22	22	DDAs, DPAs, or CDs receive the support needed to comply with the requirements of their
23	23	respective agreements and address root causes that may have contributed to their justice system
24	24	involvement or may present barriers to rehabilitation.
25	25	The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) enters into these agreements with youth as an
26	26	alternative to prosecution or being held. Y outh who are given DDAs or DPAs must complete the
27	27	requirements of the agreement in order to avoid prosecution or sentencing. Youth on these
28	28	agreements must plead guilty in addition to completing the agreement.
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30	30
31	31
32	32	In 2023, there were 443 active DDAs, DPAs, and CDs for violent, dangerous, property, and other
33	33	offenses, including 171 for violent offenses and 118 for dangerous offenses.
34	34	iii
35	35	As of December
36	36	2023, 172 youth had completed their respective agreements ; however, 89 agreements were
37	37	revoked because the youth did not comply with the requirements of the agreement. Many of these
38	38	youth need more assistance to address the factors prohibiting them from complying with the terms
39	39	of the agreement and to set them up for long- term success.
40	40
41	41	The current structure of the DDA, DPA, CD programs act as a checkpoint between the youth,
42	42	probation officer, and the courts but do not provide resources to help youth comply. With this
43	43	structure, the root cause of youth involvement in the juvenile court system is not adequately
44	44	addressed, thus possibly contributing to further involvement in the justice system.
45	45
46	46	The Justice- Involved Youth in Community Act will provide more support to youth through a n
47	47	assigned. Trusted Adult, as well as provide enhanced coordination between the Trusted Adult,
48	48	probation officers, and OAG to ensure youth successfully complete the agreements and do not
49	49	become justice involved again.
50	50
51	51	The program would be structured as follows:
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53	53
54	54
55	55	• Program Eligibility – OAG will refer the highest need, highest risk youth for participation in
56	56	the program and require in the DDA, DPA, or CD that the youth participate in the program and
57	57	attend all scheduled meetings with their Trusted Adult. Initial program participation will be
58	58	limited to 50 participants.
59	59	• Qualifications of the Trusted Adult – Trusted Adults working with youth should have a
60	60	background or training in some of the following areas: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),
61	61	Hope Theory, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), crisis intervention, motivational
62	62	interviews, m entorship, advocacy , social work, community health, and cultural competency.
63	63
64	64	• Types of Resources and Support Provided to Youth – The Trusted Adult will provide
65	65	actionable support in school attendance and academics; accessing and navigating
66	66	transportation for school, healthcare appointments, after school activities, and meetings
67	67	required under the agreement; household applications for food assistance, income assistance,
68	68	housing assistance, or other social welfare programs; and other resources as needed.
69	69
70	70	• Ensuring Compliance with DPA/ DDA/CD – The program will require monthly, documented
71	71	communication and follow-up between the Trusted Adult, the probation officer, and OAG to
72	72	ensure the youth is meeting the terms of their agreement and receiving the support they need.
73	73	If a youth is noncompliant with the terms of their DPA, DDA, or CD, then OAG will be
74	74	required to proceed with prosecution, disposition, or commitment .
75	75	This legislation represents an opportunity to ensure youth have the appropriate and necessary
76	76	resources they need to thrive long-term.
77	77	Should you have any questions about this legislation, please contact my Committee and Legislative
78	78	Director, Linn Groft, at lgroft@dccouncil.gov.
79	79	Thank you,
80	80
81	81	Brooke Pinto
82	82	Councilmember, Ward 2
83	83	Chairwoman, Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety
84	84	Council of the District of Columbia
85	85
86	86	i
87	87	A Deferred Disposition Agreement is an agreement between the prosecutor and the respondent youth where the
88	88	respondent pleads guilty, but disposition is not entered, provided that the respondent completes the terms of the
89	89	agreement. A Deferred Prosecution Agreement is an agreement between the prosecutor and the respondent where
90	90	the prosecutor will defer further prosecution of a case after filing charges, provided that the respondent completes
91	91	the terms of the agreement. In both agreements, if the respondent does not comply with the terms, the Court will
92	92	move forward with the sentencing or prosecution of the case. See Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (December
93	93	2023) available here. A Consent Decree is a court order that suspends juvenile delinquency proceedings prior to any
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99	99	plea or factfinding hearing and usually remains in effect for six months. See D.C. Code § 16– 2314, Super. Ct. Juv.
100	100	Rule 104.
101	101	ii
102	102	Criminal Justice Coordinating Council ( December 2023), available here.
103	103	iii
104	104	Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (December 2023), available here.
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106	106
107	107	1
108	108
109	109	_____________________________ _________________________ 1
110	110	Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Brooke Pinto 2
111	111	3
112	112	4
113	113	_____________________________ 5
114	114	Councilmember Anita Bonds 6
115	115	7
116	116	8
117	117	9
118	118	A BILL 10
119	119	11
120	120	_________________________ 12
121	121	13
122	122	IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 14
123	123	15
124	124	_________________________ 16
125	125	17
126	126	18
127	127	To establish a program to provide a trusted adult to offer intensive wraparound support to 19
128	128	participating youth with a deferred disposition agreement, deferred prosecution 20
129	129	agreement, or consent decree for the length of the agreement 21
130	130	22
131	131	BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 23
132	132	act may be cited as the “Justice -Involved Youth in Community Act of 2025”. 24
133	133	Sec. 2. Definitions. 25
134	134	For the purposes of this act, the term: 26
135	135	(a) “Consent decree” has the same meaning as in D.C. Code §16- 2314. 27
136	136	(b) “Deferred disposition agreement” means an agreement between the prosecutor and 28
137	137	the respondent wherein the respondent pleads guilty, but the disposition is not entered, provided 29
138	138	that the respondent completes the terms of the agreement. If the respondent does not successfully 30
139	139	comply with the terms of the agreement, the respondent moves to disposition. 31
140	140	(c) “Deferred prosecution agreement” means an agreement between the prosecutor and 32
141	141	the respondent wherein the prosecutor will defer further prosecution of a case after filing 33
142	142
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145	145
146	146	charges, provided that the respondent completes the terms of the agreement. If the respondent 34
147	147	does not successfully comply with the terms of the agreement, prosecution of the case will 35
148	148	resume. 36
149	149	(e) “Eligible participant” means a youth who has been referred by the Office of the 37
150	150	Attorney General (“OAG”) for participation in the P rogram. 38
151	151	(d) “Program” means the program established in this act. 39
152	152	(e) “Trusted adult” means a person 18 years of age or older assigned by the program 40
153	153	administrator, in consultation with OAG, to a youth who has entered into a deferred disposition 41
154	154	agreement, deferred prosecution agreement, or consent decree for the length of the court 42
155	155	agreement, with determined qualifications, including: 43
156	156	(1) Demonstrated training, certification, or other qualifying experience in one or 44
157	157	more of the following areas: behavioral health, social work, psychology, community health, 45
158	158	youth programming, or cultural competency; or 46
159	159	(2) Demonstrated prior experience as a Community Health Worker, pretrial credible 47
160	160	messenger, Department of Human Services truancy program staffer, or DC Peace Academy 48
161	161	participant. 49
162	162	Sec. 3. Establishment of the program. 50
163	163	There is established a program, to be administered by the relevant agency in consultation 51
164	164	with the Mayor, which shall build out the P rogram, offer any needed trainings, and ensure the 52
165	165	proper qualifications and professional certifications of a T rusted Adult to offer intensive 53
166	166	wraparound support to up to 50 participating youth with a deferred disposition agreement, 54
167	167	deferred prosecution agreement, or consent decree for the length of the agreement. 55
168	168	Sec. 4. Means of enrollment. 56
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172	172
173	173	The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia shall refer eligible 57
174	174	participants to the P rogram and require that the youth participate in the P rogram, including 58
175	175	requiring mandatory attendance to all scheduled meeting with their assigned Trusted A dult. 59
176	176	Sec. 5. Program details. 60
177	177	(a) OAG shall identify and refer participants to the P rogram. OAG shall consider the 61
178	178	following criteria in identifying the highest risk, highest need youth for participation: 62
179	179	(1) Whether the youth has been charged with a violent or dangerous offense; 63
180	180	(2) Whether the youth has previously entered a deferred disposition agreement, 64
181	181	deferred prosecution agreement, consent decree, or a conviction; 65
182	182	(3) Whether the youth has been arrested while on an active deferred disposition 66
183	183	agreement, deferred prosecution agreement, or consent decree; 67
184	184	(4) Whether the youth has been grade-retained in school within the last two 68
185	185	years; 69
186	186	(5) Whether the youth has been determined to be chronically absent in the current 70
187	187	or preceding school year; 71
188	188	(6) Whether the youth has experienced homelessness; 72
189	189	(7) Any other factors that the Office of the Attorney General determines to be 73
190	190	indicative that the youth needs additional support and resources for the length of the court 74
191	191	agreement. 75
192	192	(b) The T rusted Adult shall be selected for the P rogram based on qualifications 76
193	193	determined by the administering agency in consultation with OAG. 77
194	194	(c) The T rusted A dult shall be assigned to no more than two participating youth at a time. 78
195	195	(d) The T rusted Adult shall provide actionable support to assigned participants for the 79
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200	200	following as needed : 80
201	201	(1) S chool attendance through engagement with the youth, their family , and their 81
202	202	school; 82
203	203	(2) Accessing and navigating transportation to and from school, out -of-school-time 83
204	204	activities, and employment opportunities; 84
205	205	(3) Applying to out -of-school-time programs or employment opportunities for the 85
206	206	school year and summer; 86
207	207	(4) Scheduling and managing healthcare appointments , including medical, dental, 87
208	208	and behavioral health appointments; 88
209	209	(5) Accessing and navigating transportation to and from healthcare appointments , 89
210	210	including medical, dental, and behavioral health appointments; 90
211	211	(6) Accessing and navigating transportation to and from appointments or meetings 91
212	212	required under the deferred disposition agreement, deferred prosecution agreement, or consent 92
213	213	decree; 93
214	214	(7) Tutoring services or other academic supports; 94
215	215	(8) H ousehold access to food assistance, income assistance, housing assistance, or 95
216	216	other local or federal social safety net programs; 96
217	217	(9) A pplications to post-secondary opportunities as appropriate; 97
218	218	(10) Household access to affordable childcare or dependent care; 98
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223	223	(11) Planning for ongoing engagement in out-of-school-time activities, tutoring, 99
224	224	post-secondary opportunities, and other activities once the terms of the deferred disposition 100
225	225	agreement, deferred prosecution agreement, or consent decree are completed and P rogram 101
226	226	participation ends; and 102
227	227	(12) O ther resources and supports as needed. 103
228	228	Sec. 6. Tracking c ompliance. 104
229	229	(a) OAG shall require monthly documented communication and follow -up between th e 105
230	230	Trusted Adult , the probation officer, and OAG as to whether the youth is meeting the terms of 106
231	231	the agreement as related to the requirement that the youth participate in the Program. 107
232	232	(b) Beginning three months after the establishment of the Program and quarterly thereafter, 108
233	233	aggregate data on compliance and noncompliance collected in subsection (a) of this section shall 109
234	234	be shared with the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. 110
235	235	Sec. 7. Substantive noncompliance with deferred disposition agreements, deferred 111
236	236	prosecution agreements, and consent decrees. 112
237	237	(a) If OAG enters into a deferred disposition agreement and the youth offender is 113
238	238	subsequently deemed substantively noncompliant with the requirements of the agreement, OAG 114
239	239	shall revoke the agreement and proceed with disposition as if the deferred disposition agreement 115
240	240	had never been entered. 116
241	241	(b) If OAG enters into a deferred prosecution agreement with a youth offender and the 117
242	242	youth offender is subsequently deemed substantively noncompliant with the requirements of the 118
243	243	agreement, OAG shall revoke the agreement and proceed with prosecution as if the deferred 119
244	244	prosecution agreement had never been entered. 120
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249	249	(c) If OAG enters into a consent decree with a youth offender and the youth offender is 121
250	250	subsequently deemed substantively noncompliant with the requirements of the agreement, OAG 122
251	251	shall revoke the agreement and proceed with commitment as if the consent decree had never 123
252	252	been entered. 124
253	253	Sec. 8. Fiscal impact statement. 125
254	254	The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the Budget Director as the fiscal impact 126
255	255	statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 127
256	256	October 16, 2006 (12 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1- 301.47a). 128
257	257	Sec. 9. Effective date 129
258	258	This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 130
259	259	Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30- day period of congressional review as 131
260	260	provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 132
261	261	24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1- 206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 133
262	262	Columbia Register. 134