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.

Bill: 119-hr-5140
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]
Introduced: 2025-09-04
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

District of Columbia

Juvenile crime and gang violence

Violent crime
Latest action: action_date: 2025-09-17
text: Received in the Senate.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-09-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill lowers the age at which an individual may be tried as an adult for certain criminal&nbsp;offenses in the District of Columbia (DC)  to 14 years of age. </p><p>Under current DC law, an individual who is under 18 years of age is tried&nbsp;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&nbsp;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&nbsp;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.</p><p>The bill lowers the minimum age to be tried as an adult in these cases to 14 years of age.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5140 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT 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.

1. Lowering age at which a minor may be tried as adult for certain criminal offenses in District of Columbia (a) Lowering age at which minor may be excluded from jurisdiction of Family Court Section 16–2301, District of Columbia Official Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (3), by striking sixteen years of age and inserting fourteen years of age ; and (2) in paragraph (3) in the matter following subparagraph (C), by striking the age of sixteen and inserting the age of fourteen . (b) Lowering age at which minor may be transferred to criminal proceeding Section 16–2307(a), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking fifteen and inserting fourteen ; and (2) in paragraph (2), by striking sixteen and inserting fourteen . (c) Applicability This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall apply with respect to criminal offenses committed on and after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives September 16, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5140 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 4, 2025 Mr. Gill of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL 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.

1. Lowering age at which a minor may be tried as adult for certain criminal offenses in District of Columbia (a) Lowering age at which minor may be excluded from jurisdiction of Family Court Section 16–2301, District of Columbia Official Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (3), by striking sixteen years of age and inserting fourteen years of age ; and (2) in paragraph (3) in the matter following subparagraph (C), by striking the age of sixteen and inserting the age of fourteen . (b) Lowering age at which minor may be transferred to criminal proceeding Section 16–2307(a), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking fifteen and inserting fourteen ; (2) in paragraph (2), by striking sixteen and inserting fourteen ; and (3) in paragraph (3), by striking eighteen and inserting fourteen . (c) Applicability This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall apply with respect to criminal offenses committed on and after the date of the enactment of this Act.