H.R. 5214 · Passed House · Crime and Law Enforcement

District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act of 2025

Sponsor: Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY)

What it does

• Mandate pretrial detention without bail for defendants charged with crimes of violence or dangerous crimes in Washington, D.C.
• Require secured appearance bonds (cash bail) for defendants charged with public safety or order crimes such as fleeing from law enforcement, rioting, and stalking.
• Mandate detention after conviction for individuals convicted of crimes of violence or dangerous crimes while awaiting sentencing or appeal, removing judicial discretion to release pending those proceedings.

Official summary

District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act of 2025 This bill mandates, in the District of Columbia (DC), pretrial and post-conviction detention for crimes of violence and dangerous crimes and cash bail to obtain pretrial release for public safety or order crimes. Under current DC law, a court may generally order a defendant released before trial based on the judge’s assessment of the risks posed by the defendant's release. If the defendant is charged with a crime of violence or a dangerous crime, the court must determine conditions for release; if the defendant has a prior history of such crimes, is charged with a crime that involves deadly weapons, or is charged with a crime of violence, there is a rebuttable presumption that the defendant must be detained. The bill requires defendants charged with a crime of violence or a dangerous crime to be detained while awaiting trial. It also prohibits a court from releasing a defendant charged with a public safety or order crime without a secured appearance bond (i.e., money or property subject to forfeiture). Public safety or order crimes include fleeing from a law enforcement officer, rioting, and stalking. Current DC law also allows…

Latest action

Nov 20, 2025: Received in the Senate.

Committee: House Oversight and Government Reform