DC begins enforcing youth summer curfew

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — Summer hours for D.C.’s youth curfew went into effect Monday.

It allows kids to stay out an hour later during the week for July and August.

Those under 17 will have to be home seven days a week between 12:01 a.m. and 6 a.m.

“Between that hour of extension, there should be something for them to do. Otherwise, the street will take them,” said Bertie Barrett.

Many are in favor of a curfew, though there are differing opinions about how it’s enforced and what activities are available for kids.

As the weather stays warm, increased crime is a concern in the District.

“School’s out. The kids don’t have anything to do. I think it also is about implementing summer programs, making sure they do have something to do, because, times have changed,” one neighbor said.

Last summer, after a spike in robberies and carjackings, the District launched an enhanced juvenile curfew enforcement pilot in seven focus areas.

Instead of bringing kids to the police station, they’re released to the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS).

Data from Sept. 2, 2023 through June 24 shows 69 young people that D.C. police has transferred to DYRS that were in violation of curfew.

Forty-five were released to a parent or guardian, 18 were released to the Child and Family Services Agency and 6 were released back to D.C. police.

​”You can place a curfew all day, but are people really going to follow it? I think that’s really the main issue that we’re seeing today is that they say it … the youth is really not getting repercussions,” one neighbor said.

For more information about the curfew click here .

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