The Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary is responsible for any legislation related to criminal, civil, and administrative law in the District of Columbia. It also oversees all of the District’s public safety agencies, conducting hearings to hold agencies and their directors accountable for performance and spending.  For more information on the Committee and the agencies under its purview, click here.

7.13.10 - Council Votes on Juvenile Confidentiality Bill
On Tuesday, July 13, 2010, the Council approved on first reading Bill 18-344, the “Expanding Access to Juvenile Records Amendment Act of 2010.”  Bill 18-344, marked up by Mendelson's Committee on June 29th, amends the law regarding juvenile justice confidentiality to allow for the disclosure of certain information.  Specifically it allows disclosure of: the child’s name; the fact that he/she was arrested; the arrest charges; the charges filed in court; whether the child was found guilty (“involved”) and if so, the charges for which he/she was found guilty; and the child’s initial disposition (i.e., probation or commitment to DYRS).  This information is made public, however, only if the juvenile has been adjudicated of a crime of violence or firearm offense that would be a felony if charged as an adult; or adjudicated 2 or more times of unauthorized use of a vehicle, theft in the first degree where the property obtained or used is a motor vehicle, assault with intent to cause significant bodily injury, or a felony charge of pandering, prostitution or a drug offense, or any combination thereof.  Additionally Bill 18-344 would allow the disclosure of an adult’s juvenile records, including a Title 16 juvenile tried as an adult, if the adult is convicted of felony or of a misdemeanor assault within 3 years of the completion of his/her juvenile sentence.  Although this information will be publicly available, Bill 18-344 gives a juvenile the right to refuse disclosure of, his or her juvenile delinquency information in an application for employment, education, or housing. 

Additionally, the bill requires the MPD to publish statistics twice yearly detailing by PSA the number of juveniles arrested, as well as the charge(s) and dates of arrest.  Bill 18-344 also authorizes an official of MPD, Court Social Services, or DYRS to disclose certain information -- but not records -- about a juvenile delinquent to a school official or mental health professional when, in the professional judgment of the official, disclosure of the information will assist in the protection, welfare, treatment, or rehabilitation of the juvenile.  And finally Bill 18-344 establishes an Abscondence Review Committee (5 members appointed, plus 2 ex officio members) to examine what steps could have prevented juvenile abscondence where a homicide, assault with intent to kill, or assault with a deadly weapon (firearm) was committed by or to the juvenile.

Click the following links to view the Committee Report and Committee Print for Bill 18-344.

6.1.10 - Council Approves Mendelson's Bill on Community Impact Statements
On Tuesday, June 1, 2010, the Council approved Bill 18-549, the “Community Impact Statement Act of 2010.”  Councilmember Mendelson, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary, marked-up this legislation on April 13, 2010.  The DC Code currently requires the court to consider a victim impact statement from the victim of a crime describing the harm incurred and the effect that the crime has had on his or her life.  This statement is considered by the judge in sentencing the offender.  Bill 18-549 provides community members - through a representative - with the ability to submit community impact statements to the court for the same purpose.  This not only provides community members with a voice on crimes affecting them, but also assists the court in making sentencing decisions for felony offenders.  Community Impact Statements can be used as a link between the courts, prosecutors, and the local community, helping to ensure that a community’s concerns and issues are understood by the courts and prosecutors in the course of a criminal proceeding.  Click here to view the Committee Report on Bill 18-549.

5.13.10 - Mendelson Marks-up Committee FY 2011 Budget Report and Recommendations
On Thursday, May 13, 2010, the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary approved its Report and Recommendations of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary for the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget and corresponding Budget Support Act.  The report includes the Committee’s recommendations for the 20 agencies under its purview (including the Metropolitan Police Department, the Fire & Emergency Medical Services Department, the Department of Corrections, and the Office of the Attorney General).  In addition to recommendations on agency operating budgets, the report includes recommendations on capital budgets, and recommended legislative changes related to the District’s budget. 

The Committee's report also makes extensive comments and policy recommendations for the agencies under the Committee’s purview.  These comments address performance or management issues, needed policy changes, and recognize areas that have excelled or shown improvement.  To view the Committee’s full budget report, click here.

5.1.10 - Council Approves Mendelson's Bill on Drug Related Offenses
On Tuesday, May 5, 2010, the Council approved Bill 18-556, the "Liquid PCP Possession Amendment Act of 2010."  This legislation was marked-up by Councilmember Mendelson on April 13th.  Bill 18-556 increases the penalty for phencyclidine (“PCP”) possession in the District.  While it is the law in the District that simple possession of an illegal drug is a misdemeanor, this legislation amends the Uniform Controlled Substances Act to create an exception for PCP in liquid form.  The liquid form of PCP is typically the medium for distribution, even in small quantities.  The Committee heard testimony over the course of two hearings on the strong relationship between PCP use and violent and bizarre behavior, often invoking feelings of invulnerability that is not seen with other drugs.  Bill 18-556 enables the criminal justice community to better address PCP use by going after the distributors.  Click here to view the Committee Report on Bill 18-556.

 

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PHIL IN THE NEWS

8.18.10 - Gun-toting Soccer Moms a Scary Thought in D.C. Area, But Not Out West (Washington Post)
"The national debate about guns just misses that they are very different cultures," Mendelson said of the District and much of the rest of the country. "It's like a psychology, a mind-set, as to how people as a group think about guns."

8.17.10 - D.C. to Reconsider Picking Up the Event Tab (Washington Times)
"We can't afford to have fees waived for everybody [and] we can't afford to look the other way," [Mendelson] said. "What are the criteria? I will look at it … because in my view it's not fair."

8.13.10 - Marathon Organizer's CEO Gets Hefty, City-Subsidized Paychecks (City Paper)
“They’re pretty comfortable, and here we are waiving fees,” says Mendelson, who heads the council’s public safety committee. “It’s just hard to defend.”

8.11.10 - Feds: D.C. Police Have Lost Evidence in More Than 200 Rape Cases (DC Examiner)
"There are real people and real victims behind these case numbers and real criminals who are not being caught," Mendelson said.

8.9.10 - Amid Metro Brawl, Family's Night Out Turns Into "Pandemonium" (Washington Post)
"I think the police should be looking at a very focused strategy targeted on that problem," said D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson [ ], who heads the public safety committee.

8.3.10 - Council Rejects Fenty's Bid to Extend Summer Jobs (DC Wire)
Council member Phil Mendelson ... called it "political theater" and said he expected the administration to characterize the council's vote as voting against youths. But he said the council had to stick with the budget. "He's coming here to try to get bailed out of fiscal irresponsibility," Mendelson said.

For News Archives - Click Here.

 

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February 24, 2010
     - The Sosua Fire Truck
     - Another Constituent Services Success Story
     - A Listing of the Upcoming Hearings of the Committee on Public Safety & the Judiciary


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