Washington, D.C. Curfew

During the hours of 10pm – 6am, no persons 16 years or younger are allowed on the streets. This new curfew has taken into affect during the summer of 2006, after city officials have realized that juvenile delinquents are the cause for the majority of crime within the district. Mayor Anthony Williams was given the green light to place the city under tight lockdown after the council gave him authority to do so. It affects young persons of all kind, and doesn’t discriminate against ethnic background, religion or culture. The new district curfew will take place 7 days a week with minor exceptions:

�· Out with a parent/guardian
�· Written permission (with contact) from a parent
�· Organized activity/civic or church group.

Young juveniles would liter the streets of the inner city district at night. A continuous string of related crimes: Fist fighting, vandalism, theft, gang-wars, homicides and drugs pushed the city over the edge. As a result, police and city officials are targeting younger adolescents. Any young persons between 16 years or younger who is caught on the streets without proper escort or reason will be apprehended and taken to a holding facility. At the holding facility, a parent/guardian will be contacted and a fine may even be given to the parent/guardian.

The Washington metropolitan region has been bombarded heavily by large reports of criminal activities; primarily caused by young juveniles. Within one year in the district, crime has climbed to an unbelievable 82%. Neighboring cities close by are gripped with fear; declaring life inside the beltway region, nothing more than a war zone. So far this past year, police have apprehended at least 2,000 teenagers off the street at wee hours of the night and early morning.
After residents have desperately called out for answers and a solution it seems as if the city may actually get one. The only question remaining now is for how long will this be in effect and how long will it work?

It’s quite difficult to declare whether Mayor Anthony Williams’s curfew law will drop a spike into the amount of criminal activity. However, at this point, any well thought out plan may be tested. Possibly, the new curfew law in affect will keep our streets cleaner and restore at least some sort of peace back in D.C.

If we depend solely on this law during the summer only, we leave three other seasons totally available for crime to take part in. Truthfully, why does a fourteen-year-old child need to be out on the streets at 11:30 and 12:30 at nighttime? It’s astonishing just to think that at one point 292 curfew violators were apprehended by district police. What’s even more amazing is the number of parents who don’t seem to have any idea where most of their children are at these hours of the night.

There’s a chance this new law in effect will result in a more safer community for families, visitors and any one else looking to visit the district. However, there’s no guarantee of this curfew law making that much of a dramatic change.
In the meantime, residents of the district and neighboring cities will have to be cautious, alert and on guard against delinquents, young or old. Continue to stay tuned to Fox five as they will continue to bring you up to date regarding this matter.