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Mayor defends proposed juvenile curfew, says curfews mostly disperse crowds
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Summary
The Mayor described a proposed summer juvenile curfew to the council and told reporters that prior curfews, including at the Wharf, led to dispersal rather than mass arrests; he framed the measure as a response to destructive behavior by some youths.
Mayor (name not specified) explained that his request to the D.C. Council for a juvenile curfew this summer is in response to what he described as “pretty aberrant behavior” by groups of young people rather than routine youth activity.
"We're not just talking about activity. We're talking about, some pretty aberrant behavior," the mayor said, adding that some incidents involved groups taking over private businesses and causing damage. He said the intent of a curated curfew is to encourage families and young people to consider their behavior and to keep patrons safe in public spaces.
Reporters asked how enforcement would work if the curfew applies to people 17 and under and whether police would stop people on the street or ask for identification. The mayor pointed to an earlier, earlier curfew at the Wharf and said the primary effect there was that once youth knew the curfew, they usually dispersed rather than being taken into custody.
Dan O'Hara of JC News Now noted that when targeted curfew enforcement took place in past summers, only a small number — "maybe, like, 4 or 5 a night" in the examples cited — were taken into custody and referred to the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services. The mayor said the administration's expectation is similar: that many youths will leave the area when a curfew is announced rather than be arrested.
No specific enforcement protocols, ordinance text or council action on the proposed curfew were reported during the press availability. The mayor said he had sent a letter to counsel urging passage of a bill that would maintain a juvenile curfew through the summer.
