WASHINGTON, D.C. – This summer, D.C. residents are seeing fewer teenagers on the streets at night, and city officials credit a youth curfew with helping keep young people out of trouble.
The citywide juvenile curfew applies to anyone 17 and under, prohibiting them from being in public between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily. In addition, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith can declare designated curfew zones where restrictions tighten to 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. for several days at a time. These zones ban groups of nine or more people from gathering in public or private establishments.
So far this summer, designated zones have been set up in Navy Yard, the U Street Corridor, and parts of Northeast D.C. According to MPD, there have been no violations reported within these areas.
Local Reactions
Many residents say they’ve noticed the change.
“Not having all the kids just lining out, just hanging outside the stores — it’s a lot easier to go around places now,” said MaKenzie Wilburn. “You don’t have to watch out and wonder what they’re gonna do next.”
Fernando Russell, speaking on U Street, was even more direct:
“I love the curfew. Why not? Why should they be outside at 10 o’clock, 8 o’clock? Keep them in the house. They’re kids.”
Criticism and Alternative Suggestions
Not everyone supports the curfew. Jose Ramirez, interviewed in Navy Yard, argued that the policy is unfair to young people and called for greater investment in community resources.
“Give them more resources… why don’t you put more funding into community centers instead?”
Another man on U Street, who declined to share his name, echoed this sentiment.
“We’re not doing our absolute best with providing spaces for any age group to grow healthily and successfully.”
City’s Efforts to Engage Youth
The city runs a weekly “Late Night Hype” series — carnival-style events across D.C. — aimed at giving young people positive activities on Friday summer evenings. While some residents support the idea, they believe the program should expand.
“That needs to be more,” said one U Street resident. “If you’re gonna have it in the summer, you need to have it more because these kids are outside.”
Looking Ahead
Chief Smith’s authority to create special curfew zones continues through August 31, and many locals want the policy extended.
“Whoever is in charge of it, good job getting the kids off the street,” Russell said.
While debate continues over whether curfews or community programs are the best approach, early data suggests the curfew zones have been effective at reducing nighttime gatherings — at least for now.
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