DC Mayor Bowser aims to target truancy, youth crime in new legislation
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — D.C.’s Mayor Muriel Bowser is proposing new legislation aimed at targeting truancy in the District, while also prosecuting kids who commit violent crime.
Bowser unveiled the UPLIFT Amendment Act of 2024 Wednesday.
The bill aims to support families in “remediating barriers to school attendances,” while also requiring the court system to take action to ensure accountability if needed, according to the Mayor’s Office.
Proposed DC budget includes increased sales tax, more Metro funding
In part, the proposed provisions include:
Streamlining the truancy referral process by connecting students and families with resources through the Department of Human Services before engaging Child and Family Services.
Establishing temporary alternative schools for students with behavioral issues, as opposed to suspending them.
Increasing parental accountability by requiring parents to attend mandatory family conferences if their child is charged with a violent crime.
Limiting diversion and plea deals for youth charged with violent crimes involving a gun.
“They need to be in school for a host of reasons,” Deputy Mayor for Justice and Public Safety, Lindsey Appiah, said. “One, we still believe it is the safest place for them. Two, we know when they’re there, they’re engaged with caring adults and pro-social activity.”
According to data from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, nearly 40% of students were chronically absent without reason in D.C. during the last school year. That means the student had 10 or more unexcused absences.
“Whether it’s one [student] or 1,000, it’s too many for us,” Appiah said.
DC middle school celebrates drop in absenteeism; District-wide issue persists
The proposal came just days after a 12-year-old girl, and two 13-year-old girls were charged with beating a man to death in October last year.
Appiah said the the number of young kids committing violent crime led to the provision that limits diversion.
Diversion is currently offered to some youth offenders as opposed to incarceration and includes wrap around services to help rehabilitate them and prevent them from committing new crimes.
Appiah said they still believe in diversion.
“We believe it’s appropriate for some young people. But we are seeing an increase in young people who are involved in more serious crime and dangerous crime and gun crime,” Appiah said. “What we want is to make sure young people and their families end up with the right support, with the right intervention.”
The bill stops short of charging parents for crimes their children commit.
Students head to DC courthouse to learn how the justice system works
“What we all want is a safer city. What we all want is a better outcome, both for the community and for young people and we don’t necessarily have any evidence that incarcerated parents will get us there,” Appiah said.
Kaitlin Banner is the deputy legal director for the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.
“We’re really glad there is new and renewed attention to the issue of attendance and absenteeism,” she said. “We know that young people need to be in school in order to succeed.”
Still, Banner said there are some concerns with the proposal, including how closely it links juvenile crime and truancy.
“We’re concerned this bill will increase the incarceration of young people and is really relying on practices that we know are not effective for addressing truancy,” Banner said.
Worker rescued after trench collapse in Northwest DC
She said she supports the inclusion of the Department of Human Services into the conversation. But, she hopes the services that help address root causes are fully funded in the upcoming budget.
“We know the leading causes of truancy in D.C. and nationwide are students who are not in stable housing, students who are homeless, students with disabilities who don’t have access to the accommodations and services they need in school,” Banner said. “We want to make sure that the programs that address those root causes are funded robustly in this budget.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
