Washington D.C. Unveils Public Safety Legislation to Combat Rising Violent Crime

The bill, endorsed by Mayor Muriel Bowser, includes stiffer penalties for gun-related offenses and proposes the establishment of 'drug free zones', but faces criticism from judicial reform advocates and the ACLU.

• Public safety legislation aimed at reducing violent crime rates in Washington D.C. has been unveiled by local lawmakers, consolidating previous proposals and temporary anti-crime legislation.
• The bill includes stiffer penalties for gun-related offenses, wider leeway for judges to detain suspects prior to trial, and loosens restrictions on police officers' physical handling of suspects and engagement in vehicular pursuits.
• The legislation also proposes the establishment of 'drug free zones' in the city, where loitering would be heavily restricted for a period of five days.
• The bill has received endorsement from Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, despite opposition from judicial reform advocates who argue it extends ineffective enforcement-heavy tactics.
• The American Civil Liberties Union criticized several proposals in the bill as either archaic or unconstitutional, including changes to body-worn camera provisions and the establishment of 'drug-free' zones.

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