Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser revealed certain parts of the city would be enforced with a curfew for youth amid a rise in crime.
The “juvenile curfew” comes as part of three new initiatives announced by Bowser and other D.C. government officials months after the city recorded surpassing 100 homicides earlier this year.
As part of the new initiatives, the city will implement a pilot program aimed at juvenile curfews, adding 50 CCTV cameras, and increasing officer referrals within the Metropolitan Police Department to increase recruitment.
“Public safety is our #1 priority, and it requires a whole-of-government approach,” Bowser said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Juvenile curfew enforcement will focus on 7 key areas.
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) August 17, 2023
Youth will be brought to @DYRSDC, where the agency will connect with the youth and their families to proactively engage them and offer rehabilitative services and supports. pic.twitter.com/Tx9A7Tce4w
“Juvenile curfew enforcement will focus on 7 key areas,” Bowser added.
The seven areas that will be enforced for a juvenile curfew will be Chinatown and Navy Yard, the U Street area, Howard/Banneker, 14th Street between Otis and Spring Road NW, and three blocks on Georgia Avenue N.W., Benning Road S.E., and Congress Street S.E.
A curfew will be enforced for anyone 17 years old or younger between 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday to Thursday, and between 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
“Youth will be brought to DYRS where the agency will connect with the youth and their families to proactively engage them and offer rehabilitative services,” Bowser’s post said.
To date, Washington, D.C., has reported seeing a 27% increase in homicides this year, with a total of 166 homicides so far, according to data from the Metropolitan Police Department website. Washington, D.C., was reported by Axios to be on track to have the most homicides reported in almost two decades.