Bill

H.R. 5214 (119th): District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act of 2025

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 individuals who are convicted of an offense to be released pending sentencing or an appeal if the court finds the individual is unlikely to flee or pose a danger to others. The bill requires individuals who are convicted of a crime of violence or a dangerous crime to be detained in these circumstances.

house · Substantive

Rankings updated October 26, 2026, 11:44 AM ET · Votes through September 30, 2026
Exported candidates: 719 | Filings on file, by office: H: 5838 | P: 1467 | S: 1567. These counts include every filing for that office, so they are larger than the ranked list. One person can have more than one filing. Non-voting delegates are left out.

Official source

Summary

Recorded summary

The bill would require detention without release for defendants charged with crimes of violence or dangerous crimes in the District of Columbia, both before trial and pending sentencing or appeal for those convicted of such crimes. It would bar courts from releasing defendants charged with public safety or order crimes (such as fleeing from law enforcement, rioting, and stalking) without a secured appearance bond, meaning money or property subject to forfeiture. It would also keep a rebuttable presumption of detention for defendants with certain prior violent or weapons-related histories.

bail_reformcriminal_justicedistrict_of_columbiajusticepublic_safety

Theological note: Scripture grants civil authority the task of restraining evil and protecting the public (Romans 13:4), which gives this bill real relevance to public order and the protection of victims. Equity also requires that pretrial detention be justly grounded, that the innocent presumed under law not be penalized for poverty, and that individualized judgment not be displaced by rigid rules. The issue therefore raises prudential questions about balancing public safety against wealth-based detention and due process.

Scoring

How this bill is scored

Debt and war Cloture and Tier 1 Procedural votes Scoring mechanics

Roll

Recorded votes

Roll 298 · 19-Nov-2025 8:39 PM · On Passage · Passed

Yea 237 · Nay 179 · Other 17

Yea

Nay

Other

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