To lower the age at which a minor may be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses in the District of Columbia to 14 years of age.

Received in the Senate.

Sep 17, 2025

This bill lowers the minimum age at which individuals may be tried as adults in DC criminal court from the current thresholds to 14 years of age. Currently, individuals 16 and older charged with murder, first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree burglary, armed robbery, or assault with intent to commit these offenses can be tried as adults. Additionally, individuals 15 and older charged with felonies can be tried as adults if the court determines it serves the public welfare and there are no reasonable rehabilitation prospects. The bill applies these adult trial provisions to individuals as young as 14 years old.

AI summaries currently cover bills with verified final-passage votes.

This bill lowers the age at which an individual may be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses in the District of Columbia (DC) to 14 years of age. Under current DC law, an individual who is under 18 years of age is tried as a juvenile in family court. However, an individual who is 16 years of age or older may be tried as an adult if the individual is charged with murder, first-degree sexual abuse, burglary in the first degree, robbery while armed, or assault with intent to commit any such offense. Additionally, an individual who is 15 years of age or older may be tried as an adult if the individual is alleged to have committed a felony and it is determined that (1) it is in the interest of the public welfare to try the individual as an adult, and (2) there are no reasonable prospects for the individual's rehabilitation. The bill lowers the minimum age to be tried as an adult in these cases to 14 years of age.