District of Columbia Executive Office of the Mayor
05/22/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/22/2026 14:23
Mayor Bowser Reinstates Limited Juvenile Curfew Under New Emergency Order
(Washington, DC) - Today, in order to protect the public peace and preserve the safety of the community, Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a public emergency, allowing her to impose earlier juvenile curfew hours on weekends, extend the juvenile curfew to 17-year-olds, empower the Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to declare extended juvenile curfew zones in particular areas, and implement various emergency measures.
All youth under the age of 18 are subject to a curfew that begins today on May 22, 2026, and every night thereafter, until the expiration of this declared emergency, with the same responsibilities and excepted activities as provided for in the Juvenile Curfew Act of 1995. The emergency is in effect through Saturday, June 6, 2026.
The Chief of Police is authorized to declare a juvenile curfew zone upon his finding that a group of at least nine youth is imminently scheduled to gather, or has gathered, and the safety of the youth, residents, or the public is endangered. Juvenile curfew zones prohibit youth under 18 years old to gather in groups of nine or more beginning at 8 pm.
The District has used the expanded juvenile curfew authorities in a limited and targeted manner as part of a broader strategy to engage youth and prevent crime and disorder.
On July 7, 2025, the Council of the District of Columbia enacted emergency legislation introduced by Mayor Bowser, the Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-104), that temporarily extended the citywide curfew's applicability to 17-year-olds and to weekend nights. While the extended curfew was successful in reducing fights, violence, and vandalism by young people, that emergency legislation expired on April 15, 2026.
Since then, the Council has passed legislation that will permanently allow the Chief of Police to declare extended curfew zones; however, that legislation does not go into effect until July 16, 2026.
Last weekend, when the Chief of Police did not have the ability to declare extended curfew zones, a melee among youth broke out in a Navy Yard restaurant, terrifying other customers and damaging property. Had an extended curfew been in place, police could have ordered groups of juveniles to disperse before they went to the Chipotle.
The emergency declared by this Order shall be in effect for 15 calendar days unless rescinded, modified, or extended by Mayor's Order or subsequent legislation.
District of Columbia Executive Office of the Mayor published this content on May 22, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 22, 2026 at 20:23 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]