Mayor Bowser Announces Emergency Legislation to Amend Districts Juvenile Curfew Laws

Mayor Muriel Bowser introduced the Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 to enhance enforcement tools for juvenile curfews in Washington, DC. This act responds to increasing violence among youth by changing curfew hours to 11 PM during July and August and extending the curfew to include 17-year-olds. Bowser noted that proactive measures are necessary to address unsafe youth gatherings that can lead to violence. The Chief of Police will be empowered to create extended curfew zones, allowing for earlier curfews based on public safety concerns, similar to drug-free zones established in a previous law. The legislation will be considered at the Council of the District of Columbia's Legislative Meeting on July 1.

Pinto stressed the importance of combining enforcement with safe recreational opportunities for youth, highlighting the need for varied summer programming. Recent disturbances in areas like the Wharf and Navy Yard prompted the urgency of this legislation. MPD has already increased its presence in neighborhoods to prevent negative behavior among juveniles.