More often than not, people who get arrested are not prosecuted. In the District of Columbia, two out of every three crimes in 2022 were dropped by the District U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Federal prosecutors did not prosecute 67% of those arrested by the District of Columbia Police. The majority of cases built by the district’s police were tossed. That was criticized by the police chief who justified the work of his officers by saying every person arrested should be off the streets.
Biden-appointed U.S. District Attorney Matthew Graves said his office mostly declined cases for gun possession, drug possession and misdemeanors, not in violent crimes. 87% of violent crimes were prosecuted. Graves said Washington, D.C., prioritizes violent offenses over misdemeanors due to resources.
The district’s crime has risen, like in much of the country, since the pandemic, and its public safety policies have been under national scrutiny.
Since 2019, carjackings are up 109%, homicides are up 37%, and for the first time in more than 20 years, the district recorded back-to-back years with more than 200 murders in 2021 and 2022.
