Washington D.C. residents are expressing wariness about the deployment of national guard troops in the city, amid a surge in youth crime.
The move, ordered by President Donald Trump, has sparked debate about the effectiveness of federal assistance in addressing crime and the potential consequences for the community.
Dylan Whitehorn, a local barber known as “Mr D the Barber,” believes the deployment won’t address the root causes of crime. “It’s really been heartbreaking to see it,” he said, referring to the presence of national guard troops.
“And to hear Donald Trump tell [federal officers] do what you want. You know, that kind of gasses them up, because they pretty much know or feel like they can gun you down, and there won’t be any accountability for that.”
The Trump administration has called for teens as young as 14 to be charged as adults when accused of certain crimes in D.C., citing a recent case of a 19-year-old former “department of government efficiency” (Doge) staffer who was allegedly assaulted by a group of teens.
US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro has also advocated for lowering the age of criminal responsibility, stating, “We have got to lower the age of criminal responsibility in Washington D.C.”
However, juvenile justice advocates argue that D.C.’s current legal system ensures accountability and responsibility for minors involved in harmful behavior without incarcerating them in a system built for adults.
Research from the DC Policy Center shows the juvenile arrest rate in Washington D.C. is nearly double the national rate, with over 1,120 juvenile arrests from January 1 to June 29 of this year.
Some residents, like Will Scales, a D.C. parent of three, believe the punishment should fit the crime. “It honestly depends on the crime because I’ve seen some of the younger kids out here carrying guns, like I can’t even sugarcoat it,” he said. “If you out here killing then, yeah, you can serve adult time. The punishment should be appropriate.”
Others, like Whitehorn, who has spent nearly 15 years behind bars after being convicted of a crime as a teenager, believe that locking teens up in jail is not the solution.
“I get it that [if] they kill somebody, and I hate [for it] to be me or someone I love, but 14 years old, that’s just too young,” he said. “I think it’s too young to get life… I don’t think they have to be tried as an adult.”
D.C. City Council member Robert White agrees that the city needs support, but not in the form of national guard troops.
“If we could actually get support from the federal government to keep doing the things that are working, we could continue to drive down crime,” he said.
“If the president spent just what he is spending from the defense budget, deploying the guards to D.C. on homelessness and crime, we could end both of them this week, but that’s not his goal.”
The debate highlights the complexities of addressing crime and the need for a nuanced approach that balances punishment with rehabilitation and community support.
As the city continues to grapple with youth crime, residents and officials are searching for effective solutions that prioritize public safety and community well-being.