Byron Donalds' history on youth offender laws: How DC proposal breaks from his past

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., wants to lower the age of eligibility for a Washington, D.C., youth rehabilitation law, saying that anyone 18 or older should face the full weight of the law as an adult.

"In DC, 18-24 y/o criminals are eligible to be charged & tried as juveniles," Donalds wrote Aug. 20 on X. "This is wrong. My bill, HR 4922 – ‘The DC CRIMES Act’ ensures if you’re 18 or older, you’re charged (as) an adult."

Donalds’ renewed focus on the legislation, which he first introduced in 2024, follows President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of the district’s police force. Trump administration officials have specifically called out the district’s youthful offender law.

Donalds isn’t describing the district’s law correctly — it doesn’t allow 18- to 24-year-olds to be tried as juveniles, experts told us. It allows people in that age range, in certain cases, to have their convictions sealed and receive more flexible sentencing options, at a judge’s discretion.

He also has some related history. As a young adult, Donalds benefited from flexible sentencing when he faced drug and bribery charges.

https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/aug/27/byron-donalds-history-youth-offender-laws-dc/