Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets Act

This bill establishes and increases mandatory minimum sentences of imprisonment for specified crimes in the District of Columbia.

First, the bill mandates a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for first-degree murder (currently, the mandatory minimum sentence is 30 years imprisonment and the maximum sentence is life imprisonment without parole). The bill also repeals provisions that prohibit the sentencing of individuals under the age of 18 to life imprisonment without parole for first-degree murder.

The bill also establishes a mandatory minimum sentence of

• 10 years imprisonment for second-degree murder,
• 10 years imprisonment for kidnapping,
• 25 years imprisonment for first- degree sexual abuse, and
• 25 years imprisonment for rape. 

Finally, the bill increases the mandatory minimum sentence for

• first-degree burglary from 5 years to 10 years imprisonment,
• unarmed carjacking from 7 years to 10 years imprisonment,
• armed carjacking from 15 years to 20 years imprisonment, and
• rape with a prior conviction of a crime of violence from 7 years to 30 years imprisonment.