Surging violent crime alarms Washington D.C.; comprehensive solutions are sought as Congress monitors closely

Pamela Smith’s voice reached resonant heights, trembling with intensity akin to a fervent sermon, as she reflected on her troubled upbringing and its role in readying her for the daunting task she now faces as the new police chief of the nation’s capital.

“As a child, I found dreams and hopes unreachable. But I hold a firm belief in the realm of possibilities,” she declared at her inaugural press conference in Washington, displaying a fervor nurtured through her years as an ordained Baptist minister. “I’m confident that I bring a renewed viewpoint, a unique energy, and an unmatched passion to my duties.”

Smith’s appointment comes at a critical juncture.

Violent crime is spiraling upward, spurred by a rise in homicides and carjackings. The Mayor of the District of Columbia, Muriel Bowser, and the D.C. Council have found themselves at cross purposes regarding crime policy. Meanwhile, the Republican-dominated House is making pointed references to the city’s crime data as it rigorously scrutinizes local public safety laws.

On July 24, a cautionary tweet from the Mexican Consulate urged its citizens to be vigilant due to a significant upswing in crime in areas previously deemed safe.

At 55, Smith has become one of the public advocates in this ongoing struggle even before the Council ratifies her nomination as chief. She brings a compelling narrative to her new role at the helm of the Metropolitan Police Department. Smith was raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, by a single mother grappling with substance abuse. After a stint in foster care with her siblings, Smith excelled in track and field, eventually embarking on a 24-year career in the U.S. Park Police. She was the first Black woman to lead the agency before retiring in 2022 to accept a senior leadership role at the MPD.

Government and law enforcement officials emphasize that overall crime rates in Washington have remained fairly constant. Yet, the crimes showing the largest increases — homicides and carjackings — have the potential to seriously undermine public trust.

“Rising numbers of the most feared crimes shape public perception, irrespective of trends in other offenses,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves to The Big Big News.

Graves’ office, due to Washington’s unique nonstate status, prosecutes most felonies in the district, while the city’s attorney general handles misdemeanors and juvenile crime, both of which are also increasing.

This intricate interplay between two separate prosecutorial offices, the city’s police force, Bowser’s administration, and the Council has been publicly challenged as crime numbers persist at high levels — all while Congress shows heightened interest in the district’s affairs. Public safety was a primary concern during Bowser’s successful third-term campaign last year. Her tenure has been marked by clashes with the Council and the House Oversight and Accountability Committee over effective crime-fighting strategies.

July has seen a surge in violence, with 22 homicides as of Friday, including killings on Howard and Catholic university campuses. Tragic victims include an Afghan man who, having survived years as a U.S. Army translator in Afghanistan, was murdered in America while driving for Lyft. Nine people, including two children, were shot at a July Fourth gathering when a gunman in an SUV targeted the crowd. A 12-year old girl is still in the hospital after being hit in the back by a bullet that pierced the walls of her home.

While current murder rates are much lower than in the 1980s and early 1990s, when Washington consistently had the highest per capita homicide rate in the country, the figures have steadily risen in recent years. After a roughly 10% decrease in homicides in 2022, the rate has surged 15% compared to last year, and the city is on track to exceed 200 homicides for the third consecutive year. June saw 140 reported carjacking incidents, the highest monthly total in over five years.

Washington’s crime is now a focal point in national Congressional discussions. In the spring, a contentious session on local crime rates saw Bowser and Council members called before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee.

Congress ultimately overturned the Council’s comprehensive revision of the district’s criminal code. Bowser, who had vetoed the reform arguing that the reduction of maximum penalties for certain violent crimes sent a dangerous message, was overruled by the Council.

Although Bowser opposes congressional interference in local matters as part of Washington’s ongoing push for statehood, her initial veto was often cited by Republican lawmakers as evidence that the revision was lenient on crime. The motion to annul the criminal code amendment, embarrassing for the overwhelmingly Democratic city, garnered support from several congressional Democrats and was signed into law by President Joe Biden.

Earlier this month, Bowser and the Council passed emergency public safety legislation intended as a stopgap measure. The bill criminalizes public gunfire and facilitates pretrial detention in cases of violent crime. As an emergency measure, these changes will last 90 days and will not undergo congressional review. However, the plan to make the changes permanent in the fall will face legislative scrutiny.

“We must acknowledge our current state of emergency,” said D.C. Council member Brooke Pinto, who sponsored the bill. “In a crisis, we must respond swiftly and decisively to tackle the problem at hand.”

Those advocating for criminal justice reform, however, have accused the city lawmakers of regressing to discredited policies of mass incarceration.

“It’s well known that simply imprisoning more people is not the solution,” argued Patrice Sulton, executive director of the D.C. Justice Lab, who was instrumental in drafting the now-revoked criminal code revision. “Those who voted for the bill are aware that it won’t have the desired effect.”

The local American Civil Liberties Union chapter stated on Twitter that the new bill “basically inverts due process — presuming guilt and detaining suspects.”

All parties acknowledge one primary factor driving the violence: an influx of firearms into Washington.

The district’s federal prosecutor, Graves, said the number of guns used in crimes has dramatically increased, escalating minor disputes into deadly encounters. This includes a surge of “ghost guns” — firearms available in kits for assembly at home. Other kits can convert a semi-automatic weapon into an automatic one, enabling rapid, albeit less accurate, firing of multiple rounds. In 2018, three such guns were recovered; in 2022, the number reached 461.

Graves likened the proliferation of illegal guns to “a virus” in the community.

“The more the virus spreads in the community, the more people fall ill,” he said. “Similarly, the more illegal guns there are in the community, the more likely they are to be used.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Violent Crime in Washington D.C.

More about Violent Crime in Washington D.C.

• Rise of Violent Crime in U.S. Cities
• The Challenges of Being a Police Chief
• The Impact of Ghost Guns on Crime Rates
• The Statehood Debate for Washington D.C.
• How Homicides and Carjackings are Increasing Violent Crime Rates