Justice-Involved Youth in Community Act of 2025

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER BROOKE PINTO
THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING
1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 106
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004

March 24, 2025
Nyasha Howard, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Secretary Howard,
Today, along with Councilmembers Charles Allen and Anita Bonds, I am pleased to introduce the
“Justice-Involved Youth in Community Act of 2025.” This legislation establishes a program t o
pair a Trusted Adult with youth assigned to Deferred Disposition Agreements (DDAs), Deferred
Prosecution Agreements (DPAs), or Consent Decrees (CDs) i to provide intensive, wholistic
support to youth during the length of the agreement. The bill ensur es youth who are assigned
DDAs, DPAs, or CDs receive the support needed to comply with the requirements of their
respective agreements and address root causes that may have contributed to their justice system
involvement or may present barriers to rehabilitation.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) enters into these agreements with youth as an
alternative to prosecution or being held. Youth who are given DDAs or DPAs must complete the
requirements of the agreement in order to avoid prosecution or sentencing. Youth on these
agreements must plead guilty in addition to completing the agreement.ii

In 2023, there were 443 active DDAs, DPAs, and CDs for violent, dangerous, property, and other
offenses, including 171 for violent offenses and 118 for dangerous offenses. iii As of December
2023, 172 youth had completed their respective agreements ; however, 89 agreements were
revoked because the youth did not comply with the requirements of the agreement. Many of these
youth need more assistance to address the factors prohibiting them from complying with the terms
of the agreement and to set them up for long-term success.

The current structure of the DDA, DPA, CD programs act as a checkpoint between the youth,
probation officer, and the courts but do not provide resources to help youth comply. With this
structure, the root cause of youth involvement in the juvenile court system is not adequately
addressed, thus possibly contributing to further involvement in the justice system.

The Justice-Involved Youth in Community Act will provide more support to youth through a n
assigned. Trusted Adult, as well as provide enhanced coordination between the Trusted Adult,
probation officers, and OAG to ensure youth successfully complete the agreements and do not
become justice involved again.

The program would be structured as follows:

• Program Eligibility – OAG will refer the highest need, highest risk youth for participation in
the program and require in the DDA, DPA, or CD that the youth participate in the program and
attend all scheduled meetings with their Trusted Adult. Initial program participation will be
limited to 50 participants.
• Qualifications of the Trusted Adult – Trusted Adults working with youth should have a
background or training in some of the following areas: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),
Hope Theory, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), crisis intervention, motivational
interviews, mentorship, advocacy, social work, community health, and cultural competency.
• Types of Resources and Support Provided to Youth – The Trusted Adult will provide
actionable support in school attendance and academi cs; accessing and navigating
transportation for school, healthcare appointments, after school activities, and meetings
required under the agreement; household applications for food assistance, income assistance,
housing assistance, or other social welfare programs; and other resources as needed.

• Ensuring Compliance with DPA/DDA/CD – The program will require monthly, documented
communication and follow-up between the Trusted Adult, the probation officer, and OAG to
ensure the youth is meeting the terms of their agreement and receiving the support they need.
If a youth is noncompliant with the terms of their DPA, DDA, or CD, then OAG will be
required to proceed with prosecution, disposition, or commitment.
This legislation represents an opportunity to ensure youth have the appropriate and necessary
resources they need to thrive long-term.
Should you have any questions about this legislation, please contact my Committee and Legislative
Director, Linn Groft, at lgroft@dccouncil.gov.
Thank you,

Brooke Pinto
Councilmember, Ward 2
Chairwoman, Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety
Council of the District of Columbia

i A Deferred Disposition Agreement is an agreement between the prosecutor and the respondent youth where the
respondent pleads guilty, but disposition is not entered, provided that the respondent completes the terms of the
agreement. A Deferred Prosecution Agreement is an agreement between the prosecutor and the respondent where
the prosecutor will defer further prosecution of a case after filing charges, provided that the respondent completes
the terms of the agreement. In both agreements, if the respondent does not comply with the terms, the Court will
move forward with the sentencing or prosecution of the case. See Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (December
2023) available here. A Consent Decree is a court order that suspends juvenile delinquency proceedings prior to any

plea or factfinding hearing and usually remains in effect for six months. See D.C. Code § 16–2314, Super. Ct. Juv.
Rule 104.
ii Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (December 2023), available here.
iii Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (December 2023), available here.

1

_____________________________ _________________________ 1
Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Brooke Pinto 2
3
4
_____________________________ 5
Councilmember Anita Bonds 6
7
8
9
A BILL 10
11
_________________________ 12
13
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 14
15
_________________________ 16
17
18
To establish a program to provide a trusted adult to offer intensive wraparound support to 19
participating youth with a deferred disposition agreement, deferred prosecution 20
agreement, or consent decree for the length of the agreement 21
22
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 23
act may be cited as the “Justice-Involved Youth in Community Act of 2025”. 24
Sec. 2. Definitions. 25
For the purposes of this act, the term: 26
(a) “Consent decree” has the same meaning as in D.C. Code §16-2314. 27
(b) “Deferred disposition agreement” means an agreement between the prosecutor and 28
the respondent wherein the respondent pleads guilty, but the disposition is not entered, provided 29
that the respondent completes the terms of the agreement. If the respondent does not successfully 30
comply with the terms of the agreement, the respondent moves to disposition. 31
(c) “Deferred prosecution agreement” means an agreement between the prosecutor and 32
the respondent wherein the prosecutor will defer further prosecution of a case after filing 33

2

charges, provided that the respondent completes the terms of the agreement. If the respondent 34
does not successfully comply with the terms of the agreement, prosecution of the case will 35
resume. 36
(e) “Eligible participant” means a youth who has been referred by the Office of the 37
Attorney General (“OAG”) for participation in the Program. 38
(d) “Program” means the program established in this act. 39
(e) “Trusted adult” means a person 18 years of age or older assigned by the program 40
administrator, in consultation with OAG, to a youth who has entered into a deferred disposition 41
agreement, deferred prosecution agreement, or consent decree for the length of the court 42
agreement, with determined qualifications, including: 43
(1) Demonstrated training, certification, or other qualifying experience in one or 44
more of the following areas: behavioral health, social work, psychology, community health, 45
youth programming, or cultural competency; or 46
(2) Demonstrated prior experience as a Community Health Worker, pretrial credible 47
messenger, Department of Human Services truancy program staffer, or DC Peace Academy 48
participant. 49
Sec. 3. Establishment of the program. 50
There is established a program, to be administered by the relevant agency in consultation 51
with the Mayor, which shall build out the Program, offer any needed trainings, and ensure the 52
proper qualifications and professional certifications of a Trusted Adult to offer intensive 53
wraparound support to up to 50 participating youth with a deferred disposition agreement, 54
deferred prosecution agreement, or consent decree for the length of the agreement. 55
Sec. 4. Means of enrollment. 56

3

The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia shall refer eligible 57
participants to the Program and require that the youth participate in the Program, including 58
requiring mandatory attendance to all scheduled meeting with their assigned Trusted Adult. 59
Sec. 5. Program details. 60
(a) OAG shall identify and refer participants to the Program. OAG shall consider the 61
following criteria in identifying the highest risk, highest need youth for participation: 62
(1) Whether the youth has been charged with a violent or dangerous offense; 63
(2) Whether the youth has previously entered a deferred disposition agreement, 64
deferred prosecution agreement, consent decree, or a conviction; 65
(3) Whether the youth has been arrested while on an active deferred disposition 66
agreement, deferred prosecution agreement, or consent decree; 67
(4) Whether the youth has been grade-retained in school within the last two 68
years; 69
(5) Whether the youth has been determined to be chronically absent in the current 70
or preceding school year; 71
(6) Whether the youth has experienced homelessness; 72
(7) Any other factors that the Office of the Attorney General determines to be 73
indicative that the youth needs additional support and resources for the length of the court 74
agreement. 75
(b) The Trusted Adult shall be selected for the Program based on qualifications 76
determined by the administering agency in consultation with OAG. 77
(c) The Trusted Adult shall be assigned to no more than two participating youth at a time. 78
(d) The Trusted Adult shall provide actionable support to assigned participants for the 79

4

following as needed: 80
(1) School attendance through engagement with the youth, their family, and their 81
school; 82
(2) Accessing and navigating transportation to and from school, out-of-school-time 83
activities, and employment opportunities; 84
(3) Applying to out-of-school-time programs or employment opportunities for the 85
school year and summer; 86
(4) Scheduling and managing healthcare appointments, including medical, dental, 87
and behavioral health appointments; 88
(5) Accessing and navigating transportation to and from healthcare appointments, 89
including medical, dental, and behavioral health appointments; 90
(6) Accessing and navigating transportation to and from appointments or meetings 91
required under the deferred disposition agreement, deferred prosecution agreement, or consent 92
decree; 93
(7) Tutoring services or other academic supports; 94
(8) Household access to food assistance, income assistance, housing assistance, or 95
other local or federal social safety net programs; 96
(9) Applications to post-secondary opportunities as appropriate; 97
(10) Household access to affordable childcare or dependent care; 98

5

(11) Planning for ongoing engagement in out-of-school-time activities, tutoring, 99
post-secondary opportunities, and other activities once the terms of the deferred disposition 100
agreement, deferred prosecution agreement, or consent decree are completed and Program 101
participation ends; and 102
(12) Other resources and supports as needed. 103
Sec. 6. Tracking compliance. 104
(a) OAG shall require monthly documented communication and follow-up between the 105
Trusted Adult, the probation officer, and OAG as to whether the youth is meeting the terms of 106
the agreement as related to the requirement that the youth participate in the Program. 107
(b) Beginning three months after the establishment of the Program and quarterly thereafter, 108
aggregate data on compliance and noncompliance collected in subsection (a) of this section shall 109
be shared with the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. 110
Sec. 7. Substantive noncompliance with deferred disposition agreements, deferred 111
prosecution agreements, and consent decrees. 112
(a) If OAG enters into a deferred disposition agreement and the youth offender is 113
subsequently deemed substantively noncompliant with the requirements of the agreement, OAG 114
shall revoke the agreement and proceed with disposition as if the deferred disposition agreement 115
had never been entered. 116
(b) If OAG enters into a deferred prosecution agreement with a youth offender and the 117
youth offender is subsequently deemed substantively noncompliant with the requirements of the 118
agreement, OAG shall revoke the agreement and proceed with prosecution as if the deferred 119
prosecution agreement had never been entered. 120

6

(c) If OAG enters into a consent decree with a youth offender and the youth offender is 121
subsequently deemed substantively noncompliant with the requirements of the agreement, OAG 122
shall revoke the agreement and proceed with commitment as if the consent decree had never 123
been entered. 124
Sec. 8. Fiscal impact statement. 125
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the Budget Director as the fiscal impact 126
statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 127
October 16, 2006 (12 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 128
Sec. 9. Effective date 129
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 130
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 131
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 132
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 133
Columbia Register. 134