DC attorney general announces youth violence prevention program as crime plagues district

Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced a new grant program on Wednesday aimed at preventing youth violence in the district as the area experiences a surge in juvenile crime.

Schwalb said the Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Violence Prevention Grant Program will provide up to $250,000 to nonprofit groups dedicated to evidence-based and preventive approaches to curb crime in D.C. The attorney general said the goal of the program will be to identify and mitigate “risk factors” associated with youth violence.

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Juvenile crime has risen substantially in the district, and there is a lack of strong policies to detain or prosecute them. Schwalb has come under fire for working against the “Get Tough on Crime” bill supported by Mayor Muriel Bowser, which would have increased pretrial detentions for dangerous juvenile offenders. He also declined to prosecute several juvenile cases, causing several to become repeat offenders and escalate to more dangerous crimes.

Schwalb said in a statement announcing the program that Washington “cannot arrest and incarcerate out of crime.”

“Improving public safety by ensuring that DC kids lead healthy, hopeful lives is one of our office’s core priorities. Hopeful children are safer children – to themselves and everyone around them. In addition to holding juvenile offenders accountable and supporting victims after crimes occur, we also have to invest in proactive strategies to prevent crime before it happens,” Schwalb said.

“Policing and prosecution are two critical components of a public safety strategy, but the District cannot arrest and incarcerate its way out of crime. Prevention must be part of a comprehensive crime strategy as it is equally important and necessary in making our community safer now and in the long run,” the attorney general added.

“I look forward to investing in and partnering with organizations dedicated to bringing innovative ideas, methods, and tools to mitigating risk factors in youth and aiding the long-term success of young people in the District,” he said.

Services listed as eligible for the program include truancy mitigation, financial literacy, internships, youth employment, parent engagement, conflict resolution, recreational activities, and mental healthcare. Nonprofit groups that wish to apply for the program must apply by Feb. 2 at 11:59 p.m.

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The program comes a day after the 2023 crime statistics for Washington were solidified. The year ended with a 26% spike in total crime, with violent crime increasing 39% and property crime increasing 24%. The biggest crime increase plaguing the district in 2023 was motor vehicle theft at 82%.

Carjackings have become a popular crime in the nation’s capital, with 959 carjackings in 2023 and 77% of them involving guns. Of the 959 carjackings, 258 cases were closed. Metropolitan Police Department data showed 173 carjacking arrests were made in 2023, with 62% of arrests involving juveniles.