The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia provided testimony today at a hearing before the District of Columbia Council. The focus was on several pieces of proposed legislation, including the "Pretrial Detention Amendment Act of 2025," the "Kidnapping Amendment Act of 2025," and the "Case Closure and Witness Support Amendment Act of 2025."
The U.S. Attorney’s Office expressed strong support for Bill 26-0188, known as the "Pretrial Detention Amendment Act of 2025." This bill aims to make permanent certain changes to adult pretrial detention that have already been implemented under the "Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024." They also showed support for Bill 26-0203, the "Kidnapping Amendment Act of 2025," which seeks to update the District's kidnapping laws following recent legal precedents.
However, while acknowledging the aims of Bill 26-0027, or the "Case Closure and Witness Support Amendment Act of 2025," the office voiced concerns. It suggested that some provisions might unintentionally work against the bill's intended outcomes and recommended that the Council reevaluate these parts of the legislation.
Elana Suttenberg, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney, delivered additional written remarks which were shared with the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety.
