Despite Rising Crime, Nation's Capital Is at Forefront of Cities Pushing Leniency

RealClearWire ^ | May 11, 2022 | Eric Felten

[Baladas]

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- “But she told me she was 16 years old.”

Under a new criminal code being considered by the District of Columbia city council, that statement would be what is called “an affirmative defense to liability” for an adult who has sex with a minor. Put more plainly, an adult accused of sexual activity with a minor could avoid culpability if found to have “reasonably” believed the child’s claim at the time to have reached the age of consent.

This more lenient approach to child sexual abuse is just one of many changes being considered by the council. A sweeping new criminal code would redefine what counts as a crime in the nation’s capital, how those accused of crimes are tried, and how those convicted are punished.

Although many states are pushing back against progressive criminal justice reforms amid rising rates of violent crime, liberal jurisdictions from east to west continue to push for more lenient sentencing. Washington, D.C., stands out for its softer approach in the face of a crime problem illustrated by a homicide rate that jumped from 24 per 100,000 residents in 2019, to 29 in 2020, and then to 34 in 2021.

Proponents say the changes are designed to reduce the number of people arrested, prosecuted, convicted, and incarcerated

[Baladas]

1/6 excluded, of course. Pedo capital of the country.

[eyeamok]

Sounds like a whole bunch of Congress Critters got caught screwing little boys and little girls and they are trying to remedy the problem

[stylin19a]

I’m guessing you only get to claim that once....

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Despite Rising Crime, Nation's Capital Is at Forefront of Cities Pushing Leniency Anarchy

Fixed it.

[lowbridge]

"Put more plainly, an adult accused of sexual activity with a minor could avoid culpability if found to have “reasonably” believed the child’s claim at the time to have reached the age of consent."

Mmmmmm....smells like 21