Congress·Passed House·H.R. 5140

District of Columbia: Lowering the Age for Adult Criminal Trials

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.

6 months ago·View on Congress.gov

⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

✓ House

225–203

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Congress passed a bill that would lower the age at which minors in Washington, D.C., can be tried as adults for certain serious crimes. Currently, the age is generally 16, but this change would allow prosecutors to move cases involving 14-year-olds to adult criminal court.
The policy changes the rules for the city's Family Court, which usually handles cases for children. By lowering the age to 14, more teenagers could face adult penalties, including longer prison sentences and permanent criminal records, rather than the rehabilitation-focused programs found in the juvenile system.
This change would apply to specific serious offenses committed after the law is officially signed. It aims to address concerns about crime rates involving younger teenagers in the nation's capital by increasing the legal consequences they face.
While the bill focuses on public safety and accountability for serious crimes, critics often argue that 14-year-olds are not mature enough for adult prison and that these changes can have long-lasting negative effects on a young person's future.

Milestones

3 milestones15 actions

Sep 17, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate.

Sep 16, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Sep 16, 2025House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 203 (Roll no. 271). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4339)

Sep 16, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 203 (Roll no. 271). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4339)

Sep 16, 2025House

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4346)

Vote Results

1 vote

HousePassedPassageSep 16, 2025

On Passage

225

203

Democrat

8 – 202 · 3

Republican

217 – 1 · 1

View full roll call

Related Bills

1 bill

H.Res. 707Related bill

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4922) to limit youth offender status in the District of Columbia to individuals 18 years of age or younger, to direct the Attorney General of the District of Columbia to establish and operate a publicly accessible website containing updated statistics on juvenile crime in the District of Columbia, to amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to prohibit the Council of the District of Columbia from enacting changes to existing criminal liability sentences, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5143) to establish standards for law enforcement officers in the District of Columbia to engage in vehicular pursuits of suspects, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (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; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5125) to amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to terminate the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1047) to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reform the interconnection queue process for the prioritization and approval of certain projects, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3015) to reestablish the National Coal Council in the Department of Energy to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on matters related to coal and the coal industry, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3062) to establish a more uniform, transparent, and modern process to authorize the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of international border-crossing facilities for the import and export of oil and natural gas and the transmission of electricity; and for other purposes.

Sep 17 — Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 722, H.Res. 707 is amended.