Mayor credits recent violent-offender legislation for drop in shootings, outlines jail rebuilding and leave-policy changes to improve staffing

Mayor (Executive Office of the Mayor) said during a press briefing that no single tool explains recent reductions in violent crime, but that legislation focusing on violent offenders and shooters was part of a package that coincided with a drop in shootings.

“The fact that we move much needed legislation, that focused on violent offenders, that focused on shooters, and in the year since, we have seen shooting go down,” the mayor said.

The mayor also addressed conditions at the DC Jail and said the city is pursuing “the right contracting vehicle to build the jail annex” so the facility will include programming space and be more efficient. He said modern facilities and better staffing would help limit contraband.

On staffing, the mayor said the Administration is recommending changes to the District’s leave policy so directors scheduling employees will not face an “outsized and frequently abused leave policy,” which the mayor said would reduce overtime and create safer conditions.

The mayor did not provide specific timelines, dollar amounts, or contract awards for the jail annex project. He said the Administration will spend time on contracting but did not specify procurement steps or dates.

Questions from reporters raised the connection between pretrial detention and violence rates; the mayor qualified his remarks by saying no single action is solely responsible for crime reduction.