District of Columbia Prosecutor Home Rule Act
District of Columbia Prosecutor Home Rule Act
Plain Language Summary
# District of Columbia Prosecutor Home Rule Act – Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would give the District of Columbia full control over prosecuting local crimes currently handled by the federal government. Right now, DC's local Attorney General handles minor crimes and juvenile cases, while federal prosecutors handle serious felonies and other major crimes. The bill would transfer all of these responsibilities to a single local DC prosecutor's office, giving DC more independence in managing its own criminal justice system. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects DC residents and the local criminal justice system. It would also impact federal employees currently working at the U.S.
Attorney's Office for DC—the bill protects their federal benefits (health insurance, retirement, etc.) if they transfer to the new local prosecutor's office. **Current Status:** The bill is sponsored by DC's non-voting representative in Congress, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and is currently in committee. This means it has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives. The bill represents DC's long-standing push for greater local control over its own government ("home rule"), though it would require Congressional approval to pass.
CRS Official Summary
District of Columbia Prosecutor Home Rule ActThis bill shifts the responsibility for prosecuting all violations of the laws, ordinances, and regulations of the District of Columbia (DC) to a local prosecutor's office.Currently, the responsibility for prosecuting such violations is shared between DC and the federal government. Generally, the local Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia prosecutes crimes committed by juveniles and criminal violations of municipal regulations, and the federal U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia prosecutes all other crimes.The bill also specifies that current employees of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia who continue to be employed by the local prosecutor's office retain their eligibility as federal employees for purposes of health insurance, retirement, and other federal benefits.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.