Committee on
the Judiciary and public safety

about the committee

The Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety is responsible for matters affecting the judiciary and judicial procedure that are within the authority of the Council, including matters affecting criminal law and procedure, juvenile justice, police protection, correctional institutions, fire prevention, emergency medical services, homeland security, criminal justice, and public safety.

Learn more about testifying before the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety and access past hearings and testimony.

Councilmember Pinto's public safety priorities

Addressing Crime and Violence

• Working with our law enforcement partners to ensure they have the resources and tools they need to quickly and effectively investigate and close cases and support the community to prevent crime before it occurs.
• Tackling the high rates of gun violence, domestic violence, hate crimes, and other crime in our city to close cases and hold perpetrators accountable.
• Strengthening violence interruption programs that take a proactive approach to preventing crime and violence.
• Increasing coordination between our public safety sector agencies and restorative justice workers to enhance the effectiveness of violence interruptions services.
• Increasing safety at the District’s parks and schools.

• Coordinating with the Committee on Transportation and the Environment to enhance safety for residents, especially women and LGBTQQIA+ residents, on public transit.

Improving Public Safety Responses

• Working with our law enforcement partners to ensure they have the resources and tools they need to quickly and effectively respond to incidents of crime.
• Enhancing mental health supports for public safety officers.
• Reforming the Office of Unified Communications to reduce emergency call response times and dispatcher errors.

• Facilitating and increasing coordination between MPD and other District agencies on responsibilities that have been transitioned from public safety officers to other service providers.

Supporting Young People

• Creating hospitality-sector and STEM job training programs for underserved youth.
• Ensuring young people have access to a diverse array of out of school time programming.
• Providing young people with access to productive activities and recreation opportunities.

Preventing Recidivism

• Creating hospitality-sector and STEM job training programs for returning citizens.
• Establishing health-focused nutrition standards for meals and other food offerings at the DC Jail.
• Ensuring that our returning citizens have robust access to housing, jobs, and transportation to support their healthy and productive reentry into society.

Promoting a Well-Run Justice System

• Exercising critical oversight of the new Forensic Science and Public Health Laboratory to ensure the District has an accredited, reliable forensics lab.
• Providing support for the District’s court system to ensure full staffing and accessibility.

Preparing for Emergencies

• Accelerating work at HSEMA on climate-based emergency preparedness, including energy grid resiliency, emergency preparedness, and flood planning.

Gun Violence prevention roundtables

On March 3, 4, and 6th, Councilmember Pinto hosted a three-day roundtable on gun violence prevention. Learn more about the event and watch testimony here.