Violent crime in Washington has decreased by 35% in 2024, reaching its lowest level in 30 years, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Washington: So, here’s the scoop. Matthew Graves, the U.S. attorney, is stepping down after a pretty intense three years. He’s been juggling the massive Jan. 6 investigation while also tackling a spike in violent crime.
Graves is leaving on January 16, and he’s pretty proud of what he’s done. He believes the work on the Jan. 6 cases will stand strong, no matter what happens politically. He’s confident that the facts are out there for anyone who wants to know what really went down.
During his time, they charged nearly 1,600 people related to the Capitol Riot, with over 1,000 getting convicted. Some are serving time, while others are on probation or home detention. Even now, they’re still making arrests, despite some candidates promising pardons for those involved.
Graves raised a good point about pardons. He asked if it’s fair to pardon one group of political offenders but not others. He’s been consistent in prosecuting everyone, including climate activists who crossed the line.
At first, he faced some heat over rising violent crime rates in D.C. But instead of backing down, he took a data-driven approach, focusing on the city’s most violent offenders, especially those with guns.
And guess what? It seems to be working! Violent crime dropped 35% in 2024, hitting a 30-year low. They also charged more homicide cases in the last three years than in any similar period before.
Graves’ office is unique because it acts as both a federal prosecutor and a local district attorney. This dual role raised some eyebrows about possible political interference, but Graves isn’t worried. He trusts his team to do their jobs right.
Besides violent crime, they’ve also tackled issues like retail theft, which affects everyday folks. They’ve been serious about turning repeat shoplifting into felonies to crack down on it.
Graves mentioned that most people in D.C. have seen shoplifting or had packages stolen, which is a real hassle. His office has even helped the police with sting operations to catch package thieves.
Looking ahead, Graves plans to take a breather before deciding what’s next for him. He’s optimistic about the future of the office, believing they have some of the best legal talent around.
As for his replacement, that’s still up in the air. The new U.S. attorney will have to keep up the momentum on both the Jan. 6 cases and the drop in violent crime.
Graves is feeling good about the recent crime stats, which show continued reductions. He’s proud of the work done to improve the community’s safety.
