To lower the age at which a minor may be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses in the District of Columbia to 14 years of age.

This bill lowers the age at which an individual may be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses in the District of Columbia (DC) to 14 years of age.

Under current DC law, an individual who is under 18 years of age is tried as a juvenile in family court. However, an individual who is 16 years of age or older may be tried as an adult if the individual is charged with murder, first-degree sexual abuse, burglary in the first degree, robbery while armed, or assault with intent to commit any such offense. Additionally, an individual who is 15 years of age or older may be tried as an adult if the individual is alleged to have committed a felony and it is determined that (1) it is in the interest of the public welfare to try the individual as an adult, and (2) there are no reasonable prospects for the individual's rehabilitation.

The bill lowers the minimum age to be tried as an adult in these cases to 14 years of age.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5140 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5140

To lower the age at which a minor may be tried as an adult for certain 
   criminal offenses in the District of Columbia to 14 years of age.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 4, 2025

Mr. Gill of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
            the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To lower the age at which a minor may be tried as an adult for certain 
   criminal offenses in the District of Columbia to 14 years of age.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. LOWERING AGE AT WHICH A MINOR MAY BE TRIED AS ADULT FOR 
              CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSES IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

    (a) Lowering Age at Which Minor May Be Excluded From Jurisdiction 
of Family Court.--Section 16-2301, District of Columbia Official Code, 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``sixteen years of age'' 
        and inserting ``fourteen years of age''; and
            (2) in paragraph (3) in the matter following subparagraph 
        (C), by striking ``the age of sixteen'' and inserting ``the age 
        of fourteen''.
    (b) Lowering Age at Which Minor May Be Transferred to Criminal 
Proceeding.--Section 16-2307(a), District of Columbia Official Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``fifteen'' and inserting 
        ``fourteen'';
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``sixteen'' and inserting 
        ``fourteen''; and
            (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``eighteen'' and 
        inserting ``fourteen''.
    (c) Applicability.--This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, 
shall apply with respect to criminal offenses committed on and after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
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