In an alarming move, the Biden-appointed U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Matthew M. Graves, has declined to prosecute 67% of those arrested by police in the nation’s capital this year.
This refusal to protect his citizens is a sharp contrast to other major cities in the United States, where prosecutors are taking a much more aggressive approach towards criminal justice reform and prosecuting criminals at higher rates than ever before.
Daily Caller reports that DC US Attorney Graves said his office was continuing to prosecute most violent felonies but that cases involving gun possession, drug possession, and burglary charges were mostly being declined by his office. This is concerning news for residents of D.C., as crime has been on the rise in recent months and many fear that this lack of prosecution could lead to even more criminal activity in the area.
The Washington Examiner reported that Graves said his office had mostly declined to prosecute cases involving gun possession, drug possession, and burglary charges in 2021 and that these cases accounted for a majority of arrests made by police officers during that time period. This means that many criminals who would have otherwise been put on trial are now getting away with their crimes without any legal repercussions whatsoever.
This decision by Matthew Graves has been met with criticism from both sides of the aisle, with some calling it a “dangerous precedent” while others argue that it is necessary for criminal justice reform in D.C.. The Daily Caller reported that D.C.’s Police Chief Peter Newsham called Graves’ excuses “B.S” when asked about why he was not prosecuting these cases more aggressively and said he believed it was because Graves did not have enough resources or personnel available to do so effectively.
It remains to be seen how this decision will affect crime levels in D.C., but one thing is certain: if Matthew Graves continues down this path then there could be serious consequences for the safety and security of citizens living in the nation’s capital city going forward into 2022 and beyond.
Recently the Washington DC city council attempted to modify the criminal code to reduce penalties for criminals. However House Republicans blocked it.
The Biden administration must take action now if they want to ensure public safety in D.C., as declining to prosecute criminals sends a message that crime can go unpunished and emboldens criminals who may think they can get away with their actions without consequence or accountability from law enforcement agencies or judicial systems alike.
It is clear that something needs to be done about this issue before it spirals out of control and puts innocent people at risk due to lax prosecution standards set forth by Matthew Graves’ office as U.S attorney for the District of Columbia . It is up to President Biden and his administration to take swift action now if they want to protect citizens from potential harm caused by criminal activity going unchecked due to lack of prosecution from local authorities such as Matthew Graves’ office .
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